What we know about the shark attack in Hawaii and beach closures in Kauai’s Hanalei Bay

Ocean Safety Bureau officials report that Hanalei Bay will remain closed to swimmers until further notice following a shark attack left a local man hospitalized.

Swimmer suffers massive blood loss in shark attack

Chance Swanson suffered multiple leg injuries after being attacked by a shark while out swimming near Pine Trees, a popular surfing break on Wednesday afternoon. The 33-year-old safety lifeguard, was not on duty on Wednesday and went surfing with friends at the spot known as “Middles.”

Swanson suffered a severed artery in his calf as well as a large wound to his tibia where the shark bit through to the bone. First responders applied a tourniquet to the victim’s leg before he was transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he underwent surgery.

There is no information available on the type or size of the shark but tiger shark attacks are common in the area.

As a safety precaution, lifeguards have posted ‘Shark Sighted’ and ‘No Swimming’ signs along the beach and are roving the shoreline to warn beachgoers to stay out of the water until further notice.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has been notified of the incident.

Wednesday’s incident brings the number of shark attacks in Hawaii to 169 since 1995 with the majority of incidents happening during peak Tiger shark pupping season in October.

For up-to-date information about Kaua‘i ocean conditions, speak to a county lifeguard at any lifeguard station or call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984 or visit safebeachday.com/county/kauai/.

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