Maui Shark Attack Forces Beach Closures
Several Hawaii beaches were closed this weekend after a 51-year-old woman was attacked by a shark off the coast of Maui.
According to Maui News, the beaches surrounding Makena Landing Beach Park were closed this weekend after the shark attack.
The 51-year-old woman was attacked by a 10 foot shark while she was swimming about 20 yards offshore. Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said that he didn’t know what type of shark attacked the woman.
The victim suffered injuries on her right thigh and her right hand. She was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center and is currently in stable condition.
Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said that the situation would be evaluated today by authorities who will decided when to re-open the beaches.
Maui Now reports that this is the second shark attack reported on the island in recent weeks. On October 18, a stand-up paddler was surfing through the “bone yard” when a shark attacked his board.
There was also a shark attack recently in California. A 38-year-old surfer was killed during that incident which occurred at Surf Beach.
KSRO reports that the world experiences approximately 65 shark attacks every year. Only a few of those attacks, however, are fatal. In 2011 there were 75 shark attacks around the world and 12 of those were fatal. None of the fatal attacks occurred in the United States.
