'I Can't Die Right Now': Large Shark Attacks Surfer At NorCal Beach

MENDOCINO, CA — A man was hospitalized this week after he was bitten by a shark while surfing at a Northern California beach, according to authorities.

The incident happened shortly before 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday at Big River Beach in Mendocino Headlands State Park, California State Lifeguards said in a statement.

The victim — identified by ABC News as 39-year-old James Eastman — was helped out of the water by three off-duty lifeguards, who also provided him with medical assistance.

"This incident highlights the importance of having ocean lifeguard programs, and we thank our lifeguards for their quick, heroic actions," California State Lifeguards said on Instagram. "Lifeguards are an important part of the EMS and first-responder network along the rural northern California coastline."

Eastman suffered injuries to both legs, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital in Fort Bragg for treatment.

In an interview with ABC News, Eastman said he was going for a quick surf before picking up his 9-month-old from day care.

"I could see the shark's head kind of above the water," Eastman said. "I thought of my wife and my kid and I was just like, I cannot die. I can't die right now."

Eastman said he eventually escaped the shark's grip by batting it on its nose.

Nearby beaches were closed for 48 hours following the incident, which remains under investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.