A Maui surfer lost part of his leg in a shark attack, officials say

A shark bit a surfer on the island of Maui and tore off his leg on Friday morning, authorities said.

A 61-year-old man was surfing Friday morning near Waiehu Beach Park in a surf spot known as Sand Piles when he was bitten by a shark,” Maui County said in a news release.

The policemen who arrived at the scene were the first to try to stop the bleeding with tourniquets. According to officials, his leg was “completely severed just below the knee.”

Witnesses told the CBS affiliate Hawaii News Now that other surfers helped the man swim to shore.

“I heard this scream and I looked and all of a sudden I just saw him splash and I don’t know what’s going on,” witness David Basques told Hawaii News Now. “…He swam back maybe more than half way and then I saw somebody jump and they went to bring him in.”

The man was alert while being treated on the shore and then taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition.

“I would like to thank the patient for his strength and ability to make it to shore,” Maui Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Geese told reporters, according to KGMB. “I mean, it’s extraordinary. Whatever help the Good Samaritan offered, I would also like to acknowledge them.”

The incident forced officials to close the beach park. Officials warned people to stay away from water in the area. A public advisory to stay out of water for a mile in each direction of the incident will remain in effect until at least noon Saturday. The warning will be extended if a shark is sighted in the area.

Maui Fire and Ocean Rescue personnel patrolled the waters using rescue boats and a drone. State officials posted shark warning signs and helped fence off the area.

No details have been released about which shark it is.

In June, famous surfer Tamayo Perry was killed during a shark attack while surfing off the north coast of Oahu.