Bay closed since shark attack is reopened after air survey

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources reopened Kiholo Bay on Hawaii island Thursday after a check of the coastline turned up no sharks.

Enforcement officers closed the beach Wednesday after Paul Santos, 43, of Kona was attacked by a shark while surfing about 200 yards offshore on the north side of the bay at about 5 p.m. A worker at a private home called 911.

Santos was taken by ambulance to North Hawaii Community Hospital for treatment, then flown in stable condition to Kaiser Medical Center on Oahu.

The county fire department flew over Kiholo Bay to Spencer Beach Park at noon Thursday and reported no shark sighting. The bay was reopened at 1:30 p.m.

Santos was bitten on his right forearm by what was believed to be a 15-foot tiger shark.

Sharks are known to frequent the bay because there are some spawning areas for green sea turtles, said Gerald Kosaki, battalion chief for special operations.

A bystander put a tourniquet around Santos’ forearm to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived.

Kosaki said the shark also attacked the victim’s knee. His forearm injuries were described as much worse than the knee injuries.