A surfer attacked by a shark in Hawaii on Tuesday morning has died from his injuries, according to reports.
The 56-year-old Lahaina man, who has not yet been named, passed away Wednesday evening at Maui Memorial Medical Center, following emergency surgery.
The man was reported to be in a stable condition following the unspecified procedure, however his health quickly deteriorated and doctors were unable to save him.
He was attacked off the island of Maui just before 8am Tuesday, close to the World Surf League’s (WSL) Maui Pro competition site at Honolua Bay.
Photos released by officials show how the surfboard had incurred a bite mark measuring roughly 17 inches
The attack occurred just before 8am yesterday morning after the man entered the waters off Honolua Bay
The tragic incident reportedly occurred moments after the man entered the water.
He had been paddling out from the bay’s old boat ramp when the shark attacked, according to state officials.
Photos released by officials show how the surfboard had incurred a bite mark measuring roughly 17 inches.
A chunk had been ripped clean from the board.
The extent of the man’s injuries has not yet been disclosed by officials.
All activity in the area was immediately suspended as the victim was taken to the hospital.
The man’s Wednesday death was also confirmed in a tweet by WSL on Thursday.
‘The WSL has learned that Tuesday’s victim of the shark attack at Honolua Bay has tragically passed away,’ the organization tweeted.
‘Our thoughts and hearts are with the victim’s family and friends as well as the entire Maui surfing community.’
The man had been paddling out from the bay’s old boat ramp when the shark attacked, according to state officials
A chunk had been ripped clean from the victim’s surf board, pictured above
All activity in the area was immediately suspended as the victim was taken to the hospital
The man was a recreational surfer and was not due to compete in the upcoming Maui Pro.
In light of the incident, the Maui Pro which began earlier this week, has been postponed indefinitely.
The competition had not yet started for the day when the attack occurred.
The semi-finals were set to get underway, with Australians Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons up against each other before the attack took place.
In an earlier statement, the World Surf League said: ‘There will be no competition at the Maui Pro today following a shark incident involving a recreational surfer this morning at Honolua Bay.
‘The WSL is working with authorities and our thoughts are with the victim of this incident. The Maui Pro is on hold until further notice.’
One of the last fatal shark attacks to happen in Maui occurred in 2019. Officials are seen in the above image patrolling the waters of Tuesday’s attack
The WSL’s chief executive officer, Erik Logan, said in a video posted on Twitter: ‘We had a shark incident this morning with a recreational surfer.
‘Due to that we are putting our event on hold indefinitely.
‘We’ll have more information as it goes as we continue to work with local officials and authorities on the status.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with this victim. We’ll keep you updated.’
A local shark expert from the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Marine Biology said that such a death is rare.
‘It’s very unusual,’ Dr. Kim Holland told KHON 2. ‘Most attacks don’t result in people dying, fortunately. So this is a terrible turn of events.’
One of the last fatal shark attacks to happen in Maui occurred in 2019.
California doctor Thomas Smiley, who was visiting from Granite Bay, was fatally bitten while in the waters near the Kaanapali Shores resort.
Hawaii ranks second among all states with 171 unprovoked shark attacks, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History, using data stretching back to 1837.
Florida, which has been a US state more than 100 years longer than Hawaii, meanwhile, is top with 852 attacks.
