Hawaii recorded its first deadly shark attack before the year ended. Local officials said that a surfer died after getting brutally bitten by a shark off the Maui coast.
They confirmed that the incident happened on Saturday, Dec. 30. It is also considered the second fatal shark attack this 2023 across the United States.
The Maui Police Department (MPD) identified the victim as 39-year-old Jason Carter; a resident of Ha'iku. Here are other details local authorities shared regarding the first deadly Hawaiian shark attack.
Hawaii Records First Deadly Shark Attack Before Year Ends
According to Yahoo News' latest report, the shark attack off the Maui coast happened around 11:00 a.m.
"At approximately 11:19 a.m., Maui police responded to the beach area of 93 Hana Highway in Paia regarding a miscellaneous type incident," said the County of Maui via its official Instagram account.
Local authorities said that the victim was brought to a shore using a Jet Ski. Unfortunately, he died at the hospital because of serious injuries.
After the deadly shark attack, beaches in the area were closed to protect surfers and other beachgoers. Meanwhile, police and other responders patrolled the water using Jet Skis to see if there were other victims.
Officials said that before the fatal shark attack happened, warning signs were already placed for a mile in both directions to warn people about sharks. Experts clarified that these aquatic animals rarely attack humans.
However, reports showed that encounters across the U.S. East Coast, as well as southern Australia, have increased in the past years. This is why it is important to research the beaches you will visit to learn if those areas have sharks and other deadly aquatic animals.
Surviving Shark Attacks
There's no denying that humans can't win against sharks in a mano-a-mano situation. But, you should know that surviving is more important than winning in a shark attack.
There are some things you can do to prevent a shark attack or to survive one in case you encounter this aquatic creature while swimming off the beach:
- Don't panic since splashing around can excite or encourage them to attack.
- Always maintain eye contact to intimidate sharks since they are ambush predators.
- Try making yourself look bigger underwater to scare them off. You can do this by spreading your legs and arms.
- If a shark decides to attack you, never ever play dead. Instead, punch, kick, or poke their sensitive spots, especially the eyes.
- Get into an angle where a shark can't get behind you.
