A 15-year-old boy suffered a foot injury Tuesday when a shark bit him while he was bodysurfing near the Crouching Lion restaurant in Ka'a'awa.

Randy Honebrink, of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Shark Task Force, said the boy was 400 yards offshore when he felt something "slice" at one of his feet before seeing the foot in the mouth of a shark.

The boy kicked the shark with his other foot, causing it to swim away.

The incident was reported at 4:30 p.m.

The shark is believed to be a 12-foot tiger shark, based on the boy's description, Honebrink said.

The state official said he believes the boy kicked at the shark at about the same time the shark opened its mouth.

Honebrink said the boy was treated for injuries at a nearby fire station before his parents took him to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center for further examination.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.