HONOLULU -- The parents of a surfer who survived a shark bite said their son called them after the incident to tell them that he had been bitten and was going to a hospital.

Surfer Todd Murashige's family and friends said they were not surprised he survived such a shark bite because of his strong water skills and strong faith.

Neighbors could not believe Murashige is the latest shark bite victim.

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"He just loves the ocean, but it's one of those things you don't expect to happen; it's always somebody else. It's shocking," Murashige's neighbor, Hiroshi Kato, said.

Murashige's parents said their son has been surfing since he was 13. They said he would surf often in Kaaawa so they were stunned when Murashige called them himself from his cellular phone telling them a shark had bitten him and that he was going to the hospital. He told them that "this one is bad."

Murashige said it was a tiger shark that bit him, and its head was at least 2 feet wide.

Murashige pried the shark off his leg with his hands and said he could not feel his foot when he got back on his surfboard. However, he did see most of the flesh on his right thigh ripped open, he told his family.

He asked a surfer nearby to follow him in, in case he passed out before reaching shore.

Once on land, bystanders and lifeguards tried to stop the bleeding with a towel.

Paramedics treated Murashige and took him to Queen's Medical Center. He was last reported in stable condition.