In a harrowing encounter, a surfer recounted the chilling moment when an 8-foot shark clamped down on his legs, tearing through his skin. Miraculously, he managed to paddle back to shore in Hawaii, escaping further danger.
Koa Smith, a 38-year-old local and father of two, was enjoying a surf session at Kaikoos on Oahu’s South Shore when he suddenly felt a strong tug from behind.
“It felt like someone unexpectedly grabbed my ankle and pulled,” Smith shared with Hawaii News Now.
“I was bewildered and turned around to see what was happening, only to realize it was a shark,” he continued.
Smith suspects the assailant was an 8-foot Galapagos shark, leaving him with a 10-inch gash on his left leg and a 5-inch wound on his right.
“The entire side of my left calf was left wide open, and my right foot ended up with a substantial cut. The shark got both of my legs,” he explained.
Despite the shocking attack, Smith said he was able to shake off the shark and paddle back to shore, crawling across the sand and yelling for help before three bystanders rushed to assist him and call 911.
Smith is continuing to recover from multiple surgeries in The Queen’s Medical Center following the May 30 attack.
The lifelong Oahu native spent four years as a Coast Guard lifeguard and has spent three decades as a surfer.
“I’ve been in the water my entire life. Surfing over 30 years, but I also dive, body surf, body board. Pretty much my entire life is in the ocean,” Smith said.
Doctors say Smith should make a full recovery in just six weeks, and the self-employed carpenter says he is already missing the ocean.
“Just watching on Instagram all the waves that I’m missing kind of sucks. But as soon as the doctors let me, I’m back out there,” he said.
Last month’s shark attack took place near Cromwell’s Beach, according to the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department (HOSD).
“Following the incident, HOSD personnel conducted an assessment of the area and confirmed the presence of an aggressive shark near the swim area and surf break,” the department told ABC News.
“Warning signs have been posted, and ocean users are strongly advised to stay out of the water in the affected area until further notice,” the HOSD continued.
Reports of “two aggressive sharks, each estimated at approximately 8 feet in length,” had been spotted in the area on the day, according to the HOSD.
