|
 Maui County Ocean Safety officials received a report that a shark
attacked a man fishing in a kayak between Maui and Molokini, a small
island less than 3 miles off the southwest coast of Maui that's
popular for diving and snorkeling.
Maui County police identified the man as Patrick Briney, 57, of
Stevenson, Wash.
The shark bit his dangling foot while he fished with artificial
lures to attract baitfish, a news release from the state Department
of Land and Natural Resources said.
His fishing partner in another kayak tied a tourniquet on the man
and sought help from a nearby charter tour boat. The boat took them
to shore, and the man was then taken to a hospital, the state said.
The kind of shark involved was not immediately available.
Though the attack happened far from shore, the state advised the
public to stay out of the water a mile north and a mile south of
Makena State Recreation Area in southwest Maui.
There have been eight shark attacks near Maui this year and 13
statewide. On Friday, a woman suffered nonfatal injuries in a Maui
attack.
"We are not sure why these bites are occurring more frequently than
normal, especially around Maui," said department Chairman William
Aila Jr. "That's why we are conducting a two-year study of shark
behavior around Maui that may give us better insights."
Over the last 20 years, Hawaii has averaged about four unprovoked
shark incidents per year, the state said.
In August, a German tourist died a week after losing her arm in a
shark attack. Jana Lutteropp, 20, was snorkeling up to 100 yards off
a beach in southwest Maui when the shark bit off her right arm.
[to top of second column] |
Before Lutteropp's death, the last shark attack fatality in Hawaii
was in 2004, when a tiger shark bit Willis McInnis' leg while he was
surfing in Maui.
Isaac Brumaghim knows firsthand the dangers of kayak fishing, which
he said is growing in popularity. He was fishing off Oahu's west
coast in April when a camera mounted on his kayak captured footage
of a 9-foot shark jumping up and chomping on the tuna he was reeling
in.
Sharks are "an absolute danger, every single day," he said. "You
have to respect the fact they can bite you at any time."
He said bait in the water can easily attract the animal.
"Just a little bit of blood, a little meat in the water, that's all
you need," he said. "It's like dogs out there."
[Associated
Press; JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER]
Follow Jennifer Sinco
Kelleher at
http://twitter.com/JenHapa.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
