The man who was seriously injured Saturday night off Waikiki Beach was likely bitten by an eel and not a shark, Ocean Safety officials said Sunday.
Ocean Safety received a report from the Department of Land and Natural Resources Sunday morning saying the victim’s injuries are consistent with an eel bite, said spokeswoman Shayne Enright.
At 6:50 p.m. Saturday paramedics responded to a 911 report of an injured 33-year-old surfer near the Honolulu police substation on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.
Paramedics found a man with serious injuries to his left foot. Bystanders were using towels to stop the bleeding.
The man, a local resident, said he was surfing when he fell off a wave and felt pain in his foot.
Paramedics took him in serious condition to the hospital.
Lifeguards were not on duty at the time. However, Ocean Safety brought in lifeguards to patrol the water on a rescue watercraft.
Ocean Safety also noted that there has been a school of barracudas off Waikiki.
Earlier Saturday, at 11:40 a.m., paramedics responded to a call at 1502 Mokulua Drive involving a 44-year-old man, an Oahu resident, who was injured in an apparent shark attack off Lanikai.
The Lanikai victim and another man were swimming to shore from the Mokulua Islands when the shark attacked. The attack happened about 50 to 100 yards from shore, the Honolulu Fire Department said.
The victim sustained injuries to his lower legs, but the other man was not injured.
A good Samaritan on a one-man outrigger canoe brought the injured man to shore. Bystanders helped make a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding until paramedics arrived.
The victim suffered injuries to both feet, an Emergency Services Department spokeswoman said. Paramedics took him in critical condition to the hospital.
According to witnesses, the shark involved was a 10-foot tiger shark. Lifeguards on rescue watercraft patrolled the area, advising people to stay out of the water.
Saturday’s attack in Lanikai came just eight days after 25-year-old Colin Cook was bitten by a shark at the North Shore surf spot known as Leftovers. He lost his left leg above his knee and is recovering at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific in Honolulu.
“The incidents that occurred over the weekend were isolated,” said Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO George Szigeti in a statement provided to Hawaii News Now. “As an island state, we are surrounded by the ocean, so it is important that both our visitors and residents take precaution to understand ocean safety and take precaution when entering the water. We encourage people to educate themselves about their destination to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.”
On Kauai, meanwhile, Ocean Safety officials closed Haena Beach to swimming Saturday due to a shark sighting. Lifeguards noticed a 10-foot tiger shark offshore, Kauai County said by email.
“Shark Sighted” and “No Swimming” signs were posted along the beach.
The beach reopened Sunday morning.
