Surfer, 58, is hospitalized after shark attacked him biting his leg during early morning swim
Surfer, 58, is hospitalized after a shark attacked him biting his leg while swimming off the coast of Honolulu in the early morning
- Honolulu Emergency Services responded to the attack near Kewalo Basin
- Hawaii was responsible for five of the 41 unprovoked shark attacks in the US last year
A surfer was in serious condition after being bitten in the leg by an eight-foot tiger shark off the coast of Honolulu on Sunday morning.
The 58-year-old man was attacked shortly before 7 a.m. near Kewalo Basin, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.
Paramedics responded and “administered life-saving treatment to a patient who was surfing and suffered a shark bite in his right leg.” EMS said in a statement.
The surfer was not identified.
Honolulu Ocean Safety will continue to patrol the waters of Kewalo Basin and Ala Moana following this morning’s shark bite. Lifeguards posted signs in the area,” EMS spokesperson Shayne Enright said in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The 58-year-old man was attacked shortly before 7 a.m. near Kewalo Basin, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services
A surfer was in serious condition after being bitten in the leg by an eight-foot tiger shark off the coast of Honolulu on Sunday morning
According to the international shark attack dossier (ISAF) at the University of Florida, “unprovoked bites” are defined as incidents in which a living human is bitten in the shark’s natural habitat without the shark being provoked by humans.
Meanwhile, “provoked bites” occur when a human somehow initiates interaction with a shark.
The US, led by Florida’s 16 incidents, reported the most unprovoked shark attacks in the world last year, according to the document.
Of the 41 US cases, only one ended in death, in Hawaii.
According to the file, the state was responsible for five unprovoked attacks last year.
Consistent with long-term trends, the US recorded the most unprovoked shark bites in 2022, with 41 confirmed cases. This is lower than the 47 incidents that occurred in the US in 2021. The 41 cases represent 72% of the global total. This is an increase from 2021 when 64% of global unprovoked bites occurred in the US.
In total, unprovoked bites by state included New York (8), California (4), South Carolina (4), Hawaii (5), North Carolina (2), and a few incidents in both Texas and Alabama.
In Florida, Volusia County had the most shark bites (7), representing 44% of the state’s total.
Surfers and board sportsmen were responsible for fewer incidents (35% of the total cases). Swimmers and waders were responsible for most incidents at 43%.
ISAF provides resources for reducing your risk of a shark bite and instructions on what to do if you encounter a shark.