Great white shark attacks kayak off the coast of Santa Cruz

A great white shark attacked a kayak off the coast of Santa Cruz, prompting a four-day beach closure in the area near the attack. 

Steve Lawson was kayaking on Tuesday when a great white shark attacked his boat, KSBW-TV reported. 

Lawson said he was thrown from his kayak, and watched the shark "hanging" on the front of his boat. 

"I spent a little time in the water swimming around," he told KSBW-TV. "I panicked, everyone panics. There's a shark in the water. But he didn't come back. He wasn't interested in me." 

Lawson, who was unharmed, used his marine radio to call for help and was rescued by a harbor patrol boat, KRON-TV reported. 

Santa Cruz police tweeted a photo of Lawson and his kayak on Tuesday. 

"Confirmed shark attack on kayak. Kayaker uninjured," police tweeted. "That's him between harbor patrol and SCPD Officer." 

Lawson told KSBW he believes the shark was confused by his kayak.

"I never saw the shark again," he told KSBW. "I'm sure it was a mistake on his part." 

In response to the attack, the City of Santa Cruz is implementing a four-day water ban in areas close to the attack.