A man turned himself in to police Friday after a pit bull he was walking on a Wildwood beach bit a boy in the face, police said.

John Kalin, 28, of Wildwood, was sought by officers after he left the scene with the dog before police and EMS could get to the beach, according to a release from the Wildwood Police Department.

The 11-year-old boy was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center and then had to be airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was expected to undergo extensive surgeries, officials said.

The attack happened on the beach near Rio Grand Avenue shortly before police arrived at 6:30 a.m., authorities said.

The boy and his family were visiting from Bridgewater and were walking along the beach when the boy asked Kalin’s permission to pet the pit bull, police said. It then leapt forward and bit him in the face, and his family immediately called 911.

Kalin fled, but after his photo was posted to social media, the department was flooded with “multiple" tips from the public, and police were able to identify him.

It was not clear exactly what time Kalin then turned himself in, but he was charged with “violation of law intended to protect public health and various local ordinance violations pertaining to having his dog on the beach" and was taken to Cape May County Jail, according to the release.

Police did not say what happened to the pit bull that attacked the boy.

The man was accompanied by a blonde-haired woman wearing a dark sweatshirt, but it was unclear if she was facing any charges.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.