Shark bites man on leg

A surfer suffered a "fairly massive injury" on his leg from a shark bite yesterday offshore of the Crouching Lion near Kaaawa, fire officials said.

Other recent shark incidents in Hawaii: » July 25: A female tourist snorkeling off Lahilahi Point in Makaha was bitten on the arm, the first shark-bite victim this year. » Sept. 6: Lifeguards posted warning signs and closed Kailua Beach after an 8-foot shark was spotted about 200 yards off Kalama Beach. No one was attacked. Source: State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources

The man, in his 40s, paddled himself to shore after the 5 p.m. attack, accompanied by another surfer.

He was taken by ambulance in serious condition to the Queen's Medical Center, according to Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department. Fire Capt. Robert Main described the wound as a "fairly massive injury."

Firefighters from the Kaaawa station gave emergency medical care to the surfer.

"He looked pale when he got in," said Kimo Beck, 55, of Kaaawa.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources shut down Kahana Bay State Park for at least 24 hours, and the city Ocean Safety Division has posted shark warning signs along the beaches in the area.

The fire helicopter and Ocean Safety personnel scanned the area for sharks, but none were spotted, Main said.

Officials will decide today whether to keep the warnings posted, Cheplic said.

Keoni Octubre, 27, a lifeguard who grew up in the area, said: "There's a lot of black-tip reef sharks out here."

Tiger sharks are more common aggressors in Hawaii waters, however.

The attack took place about 300 yards offshore, in an area where another surfer escaped with a small gash on the foot after an encounter with a 12-foot-long shark last year.

In the Aug. 28, 2007, incident, 15-year-old Joshua Sumait, of Hauula, was about 400 yards offshore on his bodyboard when he turned around to see a 12-foot shark take his right foot in its mouth. He kicked to get away and suffered only a 4-inch gash on the heel.

CORRECTION Thursday, October 9, 2008 Keoni Octubre is not a city lifeguard as he claimed and as was originally reported in this story.