Kauai’s picturesque Hanalei Bay is temporarily off-limits following a shark incident that left a local surfer with serious leg injuries on Wednesday. The incident has drawn attention to the popular coastal spot, which remains closed as authorities assess safety conditions.
The injured surfer has been identified by family members as Chance Swanson, a 33-year-old lifeguard with Kauai Ocean Safety. Swanson, a seasoned waterman, was enjoying some time off when the unfortunate event occurred.
On that day, Swanson ventured out with friends to the well-known surf spot referred to as “Middles.” While his companions eventually returned to shore, Swanson chose to remain out in the surf, embracing the ocean’s allure.
Kalani Vierra, Chief of the Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau, recounted that a vigilant bystander noticed unusual activity near Swanson’s location. Acting swiftly, the observer alerted the lifeguards stationed at the nearby tower, prompting immediate action.
“The lifeguards looked with the binoculars and noticed that Chance was floating on his back with a big red stain around him,” Chief Vierra explained. “They went out immediately, and obviously they noticed that he was attacked by shark, and they put on a tourniquet right away.”
Ocean Safety launched skis right away. According to Kauai County officials, the incident happened around 3:10 p.m.
“He was, you know, getting going in and out of consciousness and going into shock,” Vierra said.
Then Chance’s mother received the phone call.
“He said ‘Rose, it’s bad, Chance got bit by a shark,’ and that’s like the worst call you can get as a mom and I have three boys that are always surfing and it’s my biggest fear and I just panicked,” explained Rose Keaweamahi-Hoovler. “I thought he was dead because he lost so much blood.”
“Four of the doctors said without the tourniquets, Chance wouldn’t be here, so those lifeguards … saved his life,” she added.
Swanson was flown by helicopter to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for surgery.
He has undergone surgery to repair an artery in his calf as well as surgery on his tibia where the shark bit through to the bone.
At this time, officials said there is no information on the type or size of the shark involved in this incident. The day before the attack, Kauai Ocean Safety spotted a 10-foot tiger shark in the same area. When ocean safety patrolled the area again on Thursday they said there was a shark still in the area.
A GoFundMe for the victim has been set up to assist with medical costs as well as time off of work.
According to state data, there have now been 169 shark incidents statewide since 1995.
The data shows:
11 incidents have happened during the month of January
8 incidents have happened during the month of February
16 incidents have happened during the month of March
12 incidents have happened during the month of April
12 incidents have happened during the month of May
11 incidents have happened during the month of June
9 incidents have happened during the month of July
11 incidents have happened during the month of August
15 incidents have happened during the month of September
32 incidents have happened during the month of October
16 incidents have now happened during the month of November
16 incidents have happened during the month of December
The majority of incidents happened during peak Tiger shark pupping season in October.
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