The 26-year-old became the first shark attack fatality in the region in more than 80 years after he died in hospital.
He has been named locally as Arthur Medici – a Brazilian described as "sweet and humble" by heartbroken pals.
Arthur was attacked by the fierce sea predator around noon off Newcomb Hollow Beach, police said.
Joe Booth, a local fisherman and surfer, said he was on shore when he saw the man and his friend boogie boarding when the attack happened.
He said he saw the man aggressively kick something behind him and a flicker of a tail from the water.
He realised what was happening when the friend came ashore dragging his injured friend.
"I was that guy on the beach screaming, 'Shark, shark!" Booth said.
"It was like right out of that movie 'Jaws.' This has turned into Amity Island real quick out here."
Hayley Williamson, a Cape Cod resident and former lifeguard who was on the beach at the time, was in disbelief after the man was rushed into an ambulance.
"We've been surfing all morning right here and they were just further down," she said of the two boogie boarders. "Right spot, wrong time, I guess."
Arthur was rushed to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, where he was pronounced dead.
The beach has been closed to swimming.
The family of the victim was notified of the death.
It was the first fatal shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936, and the second shark attack this season.
The 1975 movie Jaws was filmed in the state.
Massachusetts' last shark attack fatality was on July 25, 1936, when 16-year-old Joseph Troy Jr. was bitten in waters off Mattapoisett.
Troy, of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, was visiting an uncle and was swimming about 50 feet offshore when the shark attacked.
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