A surfer is lucky to be alive after a 12- to 15-foot tiger shark attacked him in Kauai, Hawaii.
Kevin Kanehe, 50, was surfing on Oct. 15 in Hanalei Bay in an area known as the bowl.
He was paddling for a wave around 4 p.m., and as he sat up to turn around on his board, he was slammed on his left side by the shark. Witnesses who saw the shark biting Kanehe’s left leg estimated it at 12- to 15-feet long.
Thinking quickly, Kanehe used his hands to pry the shark off his leg, and one of his fingers went into its snout, causing it to release its grip.
Kanehe, who fell into the water as the shark attacked, hopped back on his board and with the help of fellow surfer Jeff McBride, paddled back to shore. During the paddle, Kanehe wondered if he was in a dream and worried about the shark coming back.
Once ashore, a Good Samaritan was able to use a tourniquet and bandage to stem the blood flow from the wounded leg. Kanehe was rushed to Wilcox Medical Center.
Dr. David Ravinsky, who treated Kanehe, highlighted the severity of the situation. Had the shark completed its bite, Kanehe’s leg would have been mostly severed.
While Kanehe is very thankful to have his leg, the shark caused significant injuries. The bite reached the bone above and below the knee and damaged his femur, kneecap and tibia.
Dr. Ravinsky performed a successful surgery to repair as much damage as possible, but some muscle tissue and part of the knee cap were lost. Kanehe also sustained injuries to his ring and pinky fingers, which were sliced open and had tendons cut.
His recovery is expected to extend more than a year. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Kevin displayed remarkable composure throughout the incident, and in a surprising twist of optimism, he commented that if he were to lose his leg, then he would obtain a prosthetic like fellow shark attack survivor and pro surfer Mike Coots.
The community rallied around the surfer in his time of need with expressions of love, prayers and positive wishes pouring in. A GoFundMe was set up to help the father of two as he recovers. Locals reported the bowl area on the Bay was murkier than normal, along with rumors of children chumming the bay at night to attract sharks.
Another second shark attack occurred days later
A tourist from Spain was bitten on the thigh by a shark on Oct. 25 off Puaena Point on Oahu’s North Shore.
The 30-year-old man was surfing just after 3 p.m. when he was bitten on the left thigh by a shark. Several surfers were on their boards when a large wave broke early, causing them to drop into the water. After the wave passed, the victim began yelling “shark” and paddled to a group of surfers.
The man then lifted up his shorts and showed the group his wound and asked them to stick with him as they headed toward shore.
Surf Zach Murphy of North Shore Ohana School of Surfing came to the man’s aid and used his surf leash as a makeshift tourniquet.
Once they were back at the beach, the man walked up the beach under his own power. Ocean Safety continued medical treatment until EMS arrived. The man was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition.
Murphy believes the culprit was a juvenile tiger shark that had been spotted in the surf lineup over the last 3 to 4 days.
Earlier in 2023, a man lost his foot to shark attack in Oahu
Mike Morita, 58, was surfing the Kewalo Basin on Oahu April 11. He was lying on his stomach in crystal-clear water around 6:30 a.m. when he felt a bite on his right leg. Immediately, he knew it was a shark.
The 8-foot tiger shark pulled him underwater. He prayed for God to help him, and while under the water, he punched the shark, grabbed it in a bear hug and felt for the shark’s gills. Once he made contact with the gills, the shark released him.
Several of Morita’s friends saw the attack and paddled over to him. They were able to help him onto a longboard and assist him back to shore. Once on the beach, they applied a tourniquet, and Morita was taken to the hospital. The Queen’s Hospital Trauma Team were able to save Morita’s knee, but unfortunately his right foot was amputated.
An aggressive shark had been spotted in the area, and authorities believe an 8 to 10-foot tiger shark was responsible for the attack.
All locations have been marked on the 2023 Shark Attack Map.
