A 13-year-old boy is in the hospital with serious injuries after a shark bit him Saturday morning along a California beach, KSWB-TV reports.

The attack occurred at about 7 a.m. on the first day of spiny lobster season at Beacon’s Beach in Encinitas, California.

The boy had been diving for lobsters when he started yelling, “I got bit! I got bit!” witness Chad Hammel told the television station.

Hammel, who came to the aid of the boy, said his injuries appeared to be concentrated near his collarbone. A group of people sought to put pressure on the wounds until paramedics and a medical helicopter transported the boy to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

“His whole clavicle was ripped open,” Hammel said. “We told him he’s going to be okay, he’s going to be all right. We got help. I yelled at everyone to get out of the water: ‘There’s a shark in the water!’”

Hammel added, “Once we threw him up on the kayak and started heading in, that’s when I looked back, and the shark was behind the kayak. He didn’t want to give up yet.”

Witnesses estimate the shark was 11 feet long.

The family of the boyrequested that his identity and details of his treatment not be shared publicly yet, although a photo of him was released. As of Sunday, the boy was still in critical condition.

Authorities closed off the scene while they investigated the incident, and public safety officials are now using drones and patrolling the beach to help prevent future attacks.

“At this time, we have not received additional reports of any shark sightings in the area but are advising the public to stay out of the water,” Lifeguard Captain Larry Giles told the television station.

[Feature Photo: Handout]