Only his foot was hurt after bite by what might have been a small shark or other marine animal

A 26-year-old man was hospitalized Sunday night after being bitten while surfing in Shell Beach by what was identified as “an unknown marine animal,” according to medics.

The man was suffering “mild to moderate distress” while on his way to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital about 8:20 p.m., according to radio dispatches to the emergency room by San Luis Ambulance medics.

The man was on his surfboard in the waters off of Silver Shoals Drive when he was bitten, just before 8 p.m., according to radio dispatches.