Shark Attacks Paddleboarder Off Hawaii’s Big Island: ‘They Heard a Scream’

Shark Attacks Paddleboarder Off Hawaii’s Big Island: ‘They Heard a Scream’
A file image of a Great White Shark swimming past a maritime vessel. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Zachary Stieber
4/1/2018
Updated:
4/1/2018

A paddleboarder was attacked by a shark around 125 yards off the shore of Hawaii’s Big Island this weekend.

The paddleboarder had entered the ocean at Kukio Beach in the morning before the 9:30 a.m. incident.

Sources told Hawaii News Now that the 25-year-old man is in critical condition in the hospital and has lost at least one limb.

The Hawaii County Fire Department said the man was paddle boarding approximately 125 yards off-shore when he was attacked by the shark.

There were no county lifeguards at the beach at the time of the attack but a private safety team happened to be there.

“Apparently they had heard a scream from the ocean and they took a four man canoe out to find a male individual who had been bumped off his paddle board about 100-150 yards offshore,” Fire Capt. Michael Grace told KHON 2.

“They recovered him from the ocean. He had injuries to his right side extremities. The bystanders and the staff there at Kukio did a wonderful job and applied some tourniquets before EMS arrived.”

The victim, who lives in the community at Kukio Golf and Beach Club, was rushed to North Hawaii Community Hospital via helicopter.

The beach was closed for the rest of the day and was set to remain closed until at least noon local time on Sunday.

“The information that we are receiving is that he was brought to shore immediately and was helicoptered over to the hospital and is receiving medical attention there and all ocean access is currently closed under recommendation of the Hawaii fire department,” Morgan Suzuki, director of public relations and communications for the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai said.

The attack happened near the resort.

The last time a shark attack happened at Kukio was in 2015.

From NTD.tv
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