Surfer lost part of his leg during shark attack on Maui

A surfer lost part of his leg after being bitten by a shark in Hawaii, authorities said.

Around 7 a.m. Nov. 1, a 61-year-old man was surfing at Waiehu Beach Park when he was attacked by a shark, Maui County police and fire officials said. press release.

Authorities said the shark bit the man’s leg. The man then swam to shore, where he was treated and then taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

First responders said the surfer’s leg was severed below the knee after being bitten.

Police applied two live-action tourniquets to stop the bleeding, officials said, adding that the man was alert while he was treated.

“I would like to commend the patient for his strength and ability to get to shore,” Maui Fire and Public Safety Department (MFD) Assistant Chief Jeff Geesey said, according to NBC. KHNL Honolulu. “This is unusual.”

Waiehu Beach Park was then closed and beachgoers were advised to stay out of the water from Paukukalo to Waihee.

The incident comes just four months after legendary surfer and lifeguard Tamayo Perry died in a shark attack in Hawaii in June.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement that Perry was attacked by a shark on the north shore of Oahu, where he was an eight-year veteran of Ocean Safety and Lifeguard.

Emergency services responded to a call just before 1pm on June 23 of a surfer who was “fatally injured” after being attacked by a shark. A caller to Dispatch reported that Perry’s body appeared to have been bitten multiple times. Perry’s body was brought ashore by rescuers and authorities pronounced him dead.

There have been other reported shark attacks in the US this year, including a surfer in Florida who was bitten by a shark on the same beach where he was bitten a decade earlier.