THE search for a missing swimmer has been called off after he was the target of a brutal shark attack over the weekend.

The 52-year-old was pulled underwater by the predator on Sunday morning as he swam off the coast of California’s remote Wildcat Beach along the Point Reyes National Seashore, about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco.

While officials are still searching for him from the shore, they called off their water-based rescue efforts on Monday, according to a press release from the National Park Service.

The man had been a member of a large party celebrating a wedding and was backpacking at the time of the attack, The San Francisco Standard reported.

Samatha Edell, who was nearby when the attack happened, shared her recollection with the outlet.

“My son came up to me, and he said he heard some screaming,” she said.

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“We came out, and a group was gathered around that area where the water is, and they were looking for someone who could call emergency services because there’s no cell service there.

“They told me that their friend was out swimming, and he was attacked by a shark.

“I said, ‘How bad is it?’ They said he never came out of the water.”

The US Coast Guard was contacted about 10 minutes after the attack took place.

Their water search was called off at 9am on Monday.

“The US Coast Guard suspended its search in the frigid waters this morning, but a ground search is being conducted by first responders from the NPS, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Marin County Fire Department, and the Stinson Beach Fire Department,” NPS said.

The victim’s name is being withheld until officials can get in touch with his family.

There were dozens of shark attacks at beaches nationwide this summer.

That includes Tatiana Koltunyuk, who was attacked by one of the predators while swimming off the coast of New York City on August 7.