SOLANA BEACH, Calif. -- "Shock" is the word witnesses and friends are using to describe the fatal shark attack that took the life of a triathlete from Solana Beach on Friday.

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Dr. David Martin, 66, was killed following the attack by a shark believed to be a great white. He died from a single giant bite across both legs in the ocean off Solana Beach early Friday, authorities and witnesses said.

Dozens of swimmers and surfers were in the area where the attack happened and several people watched as the victim was pulled to shore.

Those eyewitnesses said the swimmers who pulled the victim in were in various states of shock. And as it turns out, one of the people watching from the shore actually knew Martin.

"All of a sudden this girl comes running up the beach in her wetsuit, fairly hysterical saying, 'He's bleeding to death, he's bleeding to death,'" said surfer Ira Opper.

He was checking out the waves early Friday morning, but nothing could have prepared him for what he witnessed.

"The victim was fairly ghost white at the time and they were just doing the best they can to resuscitate him," Opper said. "One wound, the right leg, was completely taped, but the blood -- you could see the blood coming through the gauze. On the left leg, the wetsuit was completely shredded, and there was some bleeding."

It wasn't until later he found out he knew the man pulled from the ocean.

"I've known Dr. Martin for years. He's saved our dogs' lives and administered first aid himself to injured animals --just a wonderful person and a great neighbor, and it's a horrible loss," Opper said.

Another friend and former co-worker came upon the scene, without knowing Martin was the victim of the attack.

"I went down to the beach to go surfing and they had said the beach was closed and a man had possibly been attacked by a shark. And when I went into the office I found out it was David. It was a big shock," said Michael H. Mulvany, DVM.

He said he and Martin practiced together for 11 years at All Creatures Hospital in Del Mar.

"He was a nice guy. He always had a smile on his face. He never seemed to get down. I think that part I'll miss," Mulvany said.

Rob Blase of Ramona was surfing in the area at the same time. He saw what happened on the shore as well.

"The poor people that were out there with them were obviously in shock. One of the girls was getting sick. She was just in shock, which you can imagine. It's one of those thing that doesn't happen," he said.

He said the shark bite wounds, though not as graphic as he would have thought, were deep, extending from the knees to ankles.

"Lacerations at the knee -- on both knees and both ankles -- really, really deep on the knees -- and the wet suit was holding everything, holding it all together if you will," Blase told NBC 7/39.

Blase said there were seals swimming in the water just prior to the attack. And despite what he witnessed, he said it will not keep him from surfing.

"It's not going to keep me from getting in the water. Your chances of getting struck by lightning or hit by a car are a whole lot better than getting eaten by a shark, Blasé said.

The mayor of Solana Beach issued a statement that said, “We are all stunned and deeply saddened by this rare accident. Dr. Martin was a good man, an expert swimmer and one who knew these waters well. We wish his family well during this difficult time.”