Surfer seriously injured after shark attack off Mendocino coast, officials say

MENDOCINO, Calf. (KGO) -- A surfer was seriously hurt in a shark attack in Mendocino this week.

It happened Wednesday at around 5 p.m. off the coast of Big River Beach inside Mendocino Headlands State Park.

Three off-duty California State Parks seasonal lifeguards were surfing nearby and helped get 39-year-old James Eastman out of the water.

He suffered injuries to both legs and says he was in disbelief when it happened.

"So one of the thoughts was just like, oh my God, this is actually happening, this is an actual shark attack," Eastman said. "And I also thought of my wife and my kid and I was just, like, I cannot die. I can't die right now. I just went into that fight mode."

Parks officials have closed the beach for 48 hours, which is standard protocol after an incident.