Shark bites 61-year-old Maui surfer, completely severing his leg below the knee

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

A 61-year-old man was surfing near Waiehu Beach Park on Friday morning when he was bitten by a shark. The policemen who arrived at the scene were the first to try to stop the bleeding with tourniquets. His right leg was “completely severed just below the knee,” a Maui County press release said.

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

The man said he did not see the shark approach, authorities said.

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, a famous surfer Tamayo Perry died in a shark attack while surfing off the north coast of Oahu.