A boy diving for lobsters has been attacked by a shark.

The 13-year-old boy had been in about 9ft of water at Beacon Beach, north of San Diego, at about 7am on Saturday when he was bitten.

He was immediately taken aboard a kayak by three people also lobster diving nearby, including an off-duty police officer, off-duty lifeguard.

One of those who picked the boy up, Chad Hammel, said he heard the boy yelling: "I got bit!"

Mr Hammel told NBC 7: "I paddled to him and there was a big wake of blood behind him.


"His entire back was open.

"The shark hit him in the clavicle.

"The shark's top teeth got him in his cheek."

Mr Hammel and his companions brought the boy ashore, where they applied pressure to his injuries and beachgoers called for an ambulance.

Image: The boy was bitten at Beacon's Beach and is in critical condition

The boy was flown to hospital by helicopter with serious injuries to his upper body.

Encinitas Lifeguard Captain Larry Giles said that, despite suffering traumatic injuries and being in a critical condition, the boy is expected to survive.

He added: "He was conscious, he was above water, and the bystanders were able to get him up on the beach... and he was talking all the way to when he was being transported."

He praised the three people in the kayak for providing a "tremendous amount of aid to that young man".

Witnesses said the shark was about 3.3m (11ft) long, but the species has not been confirmed.

Several miles of the beach have been closed by authorities for 48 hours and a surfing competition has been cancelled.

The shark has not been seen since the attack.