VIDEO: Man Survives Apparent Shark Bite Incident at Waiehu

DLNR officers take a look at the apparent shark bite wound. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A Maui man suffered a laceration to his lower back and left thigh in an apparent shark bite incident in waters off of Waiehu on Maui this afternoon.

The incident was reported at 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, off of Kukona Place in Waiehu.

Shane Mills said he was swimming about 100-yards from shore in about 10-feet of water when he “felt something grab him” and saw a fin. Mills said he “elbowed and kicked” the animal which he described as 4 to 6 feet long, which in turn took off in the opposite direction.

Mills suffered five to six small lacerations on his lower back and left leg from the incident. He said the shark ripped his shorts in the incident leaving just the waistband in the area of the bite.

Mills, who is a dive instructor and captain, said he is used to being in the water and heard there was lots of tako (octopus), and lobster in the area.

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpu_3XxS8sY /] Crews from the Maui Fire Department arrived on scene to find the 45-year-old male on shore with several lacerations to his lower back, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

Mill said the water was “a little brown, but it’s been like that,” for a while.

Only when he turned around and saw the fin, did Mills say he actually realized it was a shark that had bitten him.

He was treated on scene by medics, but drove himself to hospital for follow up. His wounds were non-life threatening.

Ocean Safety lifeguards cleared the bay of other users and made checks of the area following the incident.

DLNR and Ocean Safety officers patrol Waiehu coastline following apparent shark bite incident.

Shane Mills said he was swimming about 100-yards from shore in when he “felt something grab him.”

DLNR and Ocean Safety officers patrol Waiehu coastline following apparent shark bite incident.

DLNR and Ocean Safety officers patrol Waiehu coastline following apparent shark bite incident.

DLNR officers take a look at the apparent shark bite wound. Photo by Wendy Osher.