A 39-year-old California surfer was seriously injured after a great white shark bit him in the leg, authorities say

• A 39-year-man was attacked by a great white shark while swimming at a beach in California.
• Then man serious injuries after he was "bitten in the right leg," authorities said.
• He was transported to a local hospital was later released.

A 39-year-old surfer was attacked and injured after a shark bit his leg while swimming at a beach in California Saturday morning.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said that the unidentified man "was bitten in the right leg by a 6-8 ft. great white shark" just after 9 a.m. at Grey Whale Cove State Beach.

"It was only one bite and there were about 10 lacerations to the back of the right thigh," San Mateo Fire Department Battalion Chief Brian Ham, KPIX-TV reported. "And the surfer was able to swim back into shore with assistance from bystanders."

Authorities said after he swam to shore and was transported to a local hospital. He was later released, according to the outlet.

NBC Bay Area reported that officials said that shark attacks are a rare occurrence, but to stay alert.

"The white sharks or sharks out there are not looking at people. They are not on the menu. We occasionally have shark incidents like we did today but it's generally very rare," David Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Center told NBC Bay Area.