The Hawaii shark attack streak continues. For the second time in less than a week, a 16-year-old surfer was attacked by a shark. He sustained severe injuries to his legs.
According to the Hawaii County Fire Department, the boy, identified by relatives as Jimmy 'Ulu Boy' Napeahi, was surfing in Pohoiki Bay in an area known as "Dead Trees" at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday when a shark approached him from behind.
Witnesses say the shark was gray and was about eight feet long.
"He was coming down the wave and a shark came from the side and took him out by the leg and that's all I could see right from there," Issac Belisaro, who was surfing nearby, told KHON2.
A lifeguard rescued the boy and treated his wounds before first responders arrived. A rescuer sued a surf leash as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the boy's leg.
Napeahi was taken to the Pahoa Fire Station by ambulance and was then airlifted to Hilo Medical Center, He is said to be in good condition despite suffering lacerations and puncture wounds to both legs.
The Hawaii County Fire Department said the boy suffered lacerations and puncture wounds to both legs after he was attacked Sunday afternoon southeast of Hilo.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the waters along Pohoiki after the attack. The Hapuna Beach officials closed the beach on Sunday after lifeguards saw a shark.
Last Wednesday, a shark took off the arm of a 20-year-old German tourist who was snorkeling in Maui. Jana Lutteropp was on a three-week Hawaiian vacation when a shark bit off her arm while she was snorkeling 50 yards off Palauea Beach in Makena.
The latest shark attack is the ninth in the state so far this year. At this time last year, there were 11 shark attacks.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
