Shark Attacks Surfer In Northern Calif.

A Northern California Beach remained closed Wednesday after a surfer was attacked by a shark early Tuesday and airlifted to a hospital with bite wounds to his torso and thigh. He was in fair condition.

The 24-year-old victim, Todd Endris, was surfing with a half dozen other people at Marina State Beach when the shark attacked him from behind around 11 a.m., according to Loren Rex, a California State Parks spokesman.

The victim screamed and started punching the shark while trying to flee, Rex said.

"Then the shark took him down under the water," he said. "Witnesses saw a lot of thrashing and some blood coming up. Other witnesses saw the shark let him up before biting him one more time."

"I looked over and heard a splash and all of a sudden I saw a monster shark right on top of Todd, just saw his board floating," Joe Jansen told CBS News. "He was under the water already when I looked over ... There was blood everywhere."

One witness said the shark was a great white shark measuring at least 20 feet long, which rescuers weren't able to immediately confirm, Rex said.

Surfers pulled the victim to shore and administered first aid, using a surf leash and a blanket as tourniquets to stop the bleeding until rescuers could arrive, Rex said.

The victim was conscious and breathing, with lacerations to his torso and thigh, when he was taken away by ambulance. He was then airlifted to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose.

The Monterey County beach, located about 35 miles south of Santa Cruz, is well known for its sand dunes, hang gliding and rugged surf with very strong rip currents. The area where the surfer was attacked is considered an advanced surfing spot suitable only for skilled surfers.

Authorities closed 15 miles of beaches around Monterey, reports CBS News Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman.

Rex said this was the first recorded shark attack at Marina State Beach, but added that some divers have been attacked in Monterey Bay.