oahu shark attack: Man Loses Leg In Shark Attack
A male surfer was bitten by a shark on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, officials said Friday.
The 25-year-old man identified as Colin Cook was attacked near a popular surfing spot known as Leftovers, about three miles away from the Banzai Pipeline, Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman Shayne Enright.
Another surfer was in the water with the man and helped him back to shore after the attack, Enright said. A kayaker also assisted the injured man back to shore. Once on shore, people put the man on a surf or paddle board and used a leash as a tourniquet on his badly injured leg.
A 911 call was received at 10:25 a.m. local time (4:25 p.m. ET) and the victim was already on the beach when rescue crews arrived, Enright said.
Chris Webster, Cook’s cousin, said Cook swam to another surfer who paddled him to shore. He told KHON-TV its heartbreaking that doctors had to amputate above the knee, but Cook is in good spirits.
As reported by the AP, Cook’s friend John Harper helped him get out of the water. He said the Rhode Island native is a regular at the popular surf spot where the shark bit him.
Honolulu Services Department Spokeswoman Shayne Enright said Friday a kayaker also helped Cook get back to shore. Once on the shore, people put the man on a surf or paddle board and used a leash as a tourniquet on his badly injured leg.
Enright said a 911 call was received at 10:25 a.m. and the victim was already on the beach when rescue crews arrived.
Witnesses told officials the shark was either a tiger or Galapagos about 10-12 feet long, but officials couldn’t confirm the species or size. A fire department helicopter spotted a shark in nearby waters about two hours after the attack. They estimated it was about 8 feet long, but couldn’t confirm it was the same shark that bit the surfer.
Lifeguards in the area were warning visitors to stay out of the ocean and signs have been posted along the beach. Officials say they will reassess the situation on Saturday and determine if it is safe for people to enter the water.
Braxton Rocha, who was attacked and severely injured by a 13-foot tiger shark off the north coast of the Big Island in September, saw the news of Friday’s attack and said it brought him back to what he went through.
“I’m speechless right now,” he said. “I just want to wish him a speedy recovery, and hope he gets back into the water soon. I hope what happened doesn’t make him feel any differently towards sharks or the ocean.”
Rocha required over 100 staples to close the wounds he suffered when the shark bit him while spearfishing. He said he would like to visit Friday’s victim to help him in any way he can.
This is the fifth shark attack in Hawaii this year. One attack, which occurred on Maui in April, was fatal. All bites this year have happened in turbid or murky water.
