Shark bites male visitor on Kauai

A 20-year-old visitor from Colorado was bitten on the leg by a shark while body- boarding near Shipwreck beach Thursday morning.

The man sustained what was described as non-life- threatening injuries to his leg. Officials said he was taken by a private vehicle for medical treatment and was released.

Ocean Safety officials closed Keoniloa Bay, also known as Shipwreck beach, after the attack and were expected to reassess the water today to determine whether it is safe for swimming.

Officials have been warning people to stay out of the water all week on Kauai following last weekend’s heavy rain and flooding. The state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch issued a brown-water advisory for the island, but it did not include the Poipu area from Shipwreck to Sheraton Beach.

The popular resort is on the opposite end of the island from where the worst of the flooding devastated the North Shore.

Thursday’s incident happened at around 8 a.m. Afterward, lifeguards posted “Shark Sighted” and “No Swimming” signs and were patrolling the shoreline to warn people to stay out of the water.

If confirmed, this represents the second shark attack of the year. On March 31 a stand-up paddleboarder was severely cut on the arm, hand and leg by a 12-foot tiger shark 125 yards off Kukio Beach in North Kona.