Tiger Shark Bites Woman Swimming in Hawaii Waters
A woman swimming in the Hawaii waters was bitten by a shark leaving her hospitalized on Tuesday. Experts believed that the woman was attacked by a 10-foot tiger shark, according to a report from Fox News.
The victim's name was not identified, but authorities noted that the woman is 57 years old and is swimming off the coast with a tourist group.
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Shark Attack in Hawaii
The incident happened off the coast of Kukio Golf and Beach Club in Kona, according to a report from Miami Herald. At around 8:50 in the morning, the woman was reported to be swimming with other people. The group was composed of 17 people.
The victim was reported to be one of two members from the group swimming, while eight others are enjoying the Hawaii waters through a stand-up paddleboard, and six others on a canoe.
The woman was bitten by the shark leaving a 2-inch puncture wound on her knees. The woman was brought into one of the canoes, then taken to the shore and given first aid.
Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) noted that a jet ski operator warned the group that a 10-foot shark was seen in the vicinity.
The victim's encounter with the tiger shark happened 200 yards offshore. Fox News noted that the shark approached the woman from behind.
The victim was brought to the North Hawai'i Medical Center for treatment. Because of the incident, beaches near the resort and along nearby Kua Bay were closed for the safety of the people.
DLNR noted that standard shark incident protocols include a call for shark warning signs to be posted one mile in either direction from the incident.
Shark Attacks
Fox News shared that some species of shark are known to feed during dusk, dawn, and during the night. However, Tiger Sharks are known to bite people at any time of the day. Furthermore, Tiger sharks can also reach sizes up to 16 feet.
Even though shark attacks are unusual, National Geographic noted that they can be real, and knowing how to avoid an attack or what to do when the sharks mark you as the target will help.
People who are bleeding, also menstruating, should steer out of the waters because sharks can smell and taste the smallest amount of blood for over a mile. Another tip to avoid a shark attack is not swimming during the night, dawn, and even dusk. Excessive splashing is also not encouraged because such activity is attractive for the predator.
In case of an attack, pounding the shark with any object available can help. If there is none, concentrating the blows on the eyes, gills, and snout will help an individual survive.
Meanwhile, the shark attack that recently happened in Hawaii was described by the DLNR to be a non-fatal incident. Fox News noted that the woman who suffered a knee injury from the bite of the shark is in stable condition.
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