Every surfing fan who follows the sport knows of the Pipemaster Kelly Slater. The 11x World Surf League champion has perfected many of his skills on Hawaii’s Oahu beach. The region is famous among the surfing community for its massive swells. It’s no wonder so many surfers make their pilgrimage to this American shore for the ultimate competitive surfing experience. However, recent shark attacks have put a damper on America’s favorite maritime activities.

Now, another severe blow has been dealt to the sport as Oahu Beach has become a breeding ground to an increasing number of these sharp-toothed predators. On Wednesday, a surfer fell prey to one such beast and almost lost his leg in the bloody encounter.

Surfing enthusiast sustained a nasty gash in shark attack

Hawaii News Now spoke with the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services to learn that the 30-year-old man was surfing when a shark attacked his leg, the most trusted asset of a surfer. He was surfing in the Puaena Point on Oahu’s North Shore when the shark bit him in the leg. Puaena Point in Haleiwa is a very popular surf spot, and the surfer expected to catch some mighty waves. Contrary to his expectations, he got caught in the jaws of death and suffered a serious injury. Surf instructor Bryan Suratt proclaims – “We see them a lot,” he said. “First time it’s so close to us.”

The incident occurred around 3 p.m., and eyewitnesses immediately called 911 for help. However, before the first responders could arrive at the scene, the other surfers had taken matters into their own hands. Notwithstanding the danger of the feeding frenzy that ensues following a shark attack, an intrepid surf instructor brought him ashore and managed to pull the injured surfer to safety.

He brought him back to shore and tied a tourniquet around the wound on his leg to arrest the bleeding. Thereafter, the Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards rushed to the scene and took charge until EMS made it to the scene. Although the surf instructor had managed to save the man from bleeding to death, he was still in dire condition. He was transported to the ER in a local hospital under advanced life support. This incident, in conjunction with similar attacks in 2023, has raised questions about surfer safety in Oahu.

Frequent shark attacks hit the Hawaiian surfing hotspot

The official site for the island’s local government has listed five unprovoked shark attacks this year. These were recorded in different regions of Hawaii at different times. Therefore, it has become very difficult to formulate a pattern behind these attacks. Also, these attacks are becoming more violent and unpredictable with each passing day. One victim who can attest to this fact is local fisherman Scott Haraguchi. He had his “Jaws” moment in March when a shark attacked him while he was kayaking.

Read More: Shark Attack Victim Slams Down Bystanders Who Were No Help During Horrifying Incident

The tiger shark that nicked him came from the depths and hit his kayak at a high velocity. It happened so quickly that Haraguchi did not realize what happened. Later, he inspected the footage on his GoPro to find out how close he was to disaster. In the recent case, the type of shark still remains unknown despite the water being clear during the day. This is a testament to the predator’s sneaky attack tactics. Now, the surfing community is anticipating danger behind every wave and is apprehensive about stepping into the water. Is this the end of surfing in America? We certainly hope now as resolutions and bylaws are bound to be put in place.

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