Maui surfer loses part of leg in shark attack, officials say

A shark spot a Maui surfer Friday greeting and severed his leg, authorities said.

The man, 61, was surfing disconnected Waiehu Beach Park Friday greeting successful a surf spot known arsenic Sand Piles erstwhile a shark spot him," Maui County said successful a news release. 

Police officers who arrived to nan segment first tried to power nan bleeding pinch tourniquets. His limb was "completely severed conscionable beneath nan knee," officials said. 

Witnesses told CBS connection Hawaii News Now that different surfers helped nan man aquatics backmost to shore.

"I heard this outcry and I looked, and each of a abrupt I conscionable seen him splash, and I don't cognize what was happening," witnesser David Basques told Hawaii News Now. "…He swam himself backmost possibly much than half nan way, and past I seen personification jump successful and they went bring him inside."

The man was alert while being treated connected statement and past taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center successful captious condition.

"I would for illustration to commend nan diligent for his spot and wherewithal, getting himself to shore," Maui Fire Department Assistant Chief Jeff Giesea told reporters, according to KGMB. "I mean, that's extraordinary. Whatever Good Samaritans offered assistance, I'd for illustration to commend them arsenic well."

The incident prompted officials to adjacent nan formation park. Officials warned group to enactment retired of nan h2o successful nan area. The nationalist informing to enactment retired of nan h2o for a mile successful each guidance of nan incident will beryllium successful effect until astatine slightest noon Saturday. The informing will beryllium extended if location is simply a shark sighting successful nan area.

Maui occurrence and water information officials were operating nan waters utilizing rescue watercraft and a drone. State officials provided shark informing signs and helped pinch cordoning disconnected nan area.

There were nary specifications provided connected what benignant of shark was involved.

In June, well-known surfer Tamayo Perry was killed successful a shark onslaught while surfing disconnected Oahu's North Shore.

In:
• Maui
• Shark Attack
• Hawaii