Shark Attack: Great White Shark Bites California Surfer on the Leg; Surfer Lives to Tell the Tale

The numbers recently found by researchers regarding the growing numbers of the great white shark in California a month ago was proven by the latest shark attack after a surfer was severely injured with only one bite from the predator.

The 35-year-old California surfer was attacked by a great white shark and only managed to survive after he swam to the shore at Gray Whale Cove beach, which is close to San Francisco Area. When the rescuers arrived at the scene, they immediately applied a tourniquet to the man's right leg to stop blood loss.

According to The Guardian, the California Fire unit in San Mateo-Santa Cruz stated that first responders applied advanced life support measures to make sure that the surfer's life will be saved. The fire unit then transported the surfer to the trauma unit at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital for further medical assistance.

Based on the statement of the San Mateo County sheriff's office, the shark that attacked the 35-year-old man was estimated at between 6ft and 8ft, they indicated that it was probably a juvenile. The California man was released on Sunday from the hospital.

Meanwhile, Brian Ham, battalion chief of the San Mateo fire department shared that the surfer only had one bite but there were about 10 lacerations to the back of his right thigh. Ham also added that sharks are within the surf zone which is located 100 feet to 200 feet away from the actual beach. The depth of the water was shallow but a shark can attack very close to the beach, Bay Area CBS5 reported.

Rising Numbers of Great White Sharks

Last month, Montana State University's marine ecologists found that the numbers of the great white rose in northern California's so-called "red triangle." The 'red triangle' runs north from Monterey Bay to Bodega Bay and about 20 miles offshore to the Farallon Islands. The Gray Whale Cove where the surfer went is at the center of the coastal stretch.

Based on the seven-year study, which was funded by Stanford University and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, they have concluded that there were 266 adult and sub-adult great white sharks in the red triangle. They mentioned that the increase in the number compared to a decade earlier was modest. The study was also supported by the Oregon State University.

Putting aside the recent shark attack, the researchers stated that it was a clear indication that ocean conditions were improving with associated benefits to marine life.

Paul Kanive, the lead author and a veteran member of the California white shark tagging team shared that they were cautiously optimistic that this is a good news story for the ocean ecosystem off California, Newsweek reported.

Kanive added that recent findings were good indicators regarding the overall health of the system. He also added that white sharks, as apex predators, need a healthy structure of other animals in the food chain's lower levels. White sharks' preferred prey were coastal seals, and sea lions, which have rebounded their population and at very high numbers. This means that there are sustainable and plentiful food sources for the sharks.

WATCH: Great White Shark Attacks California Surfer - TODAY