Cove Park Incident Likely Not a Shark Bite

Cove Park, March 10, 2014. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Fire officials say a bite incident at Cove Park in South Maui this morning was likely not caused by a shark.

Firefighters from Kīhei responded to Cove Park at 8:55 a.m. on Monday, March 10, 2014 for a report of a possible shark bite, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

According to department reports, crews arrived to find a 66-year-old female with two lacerations, about two inches in size, on her lower right leg.

Cove Park photos, March 10, 2014, by Wendy Osher.

Upon investigation, Chief Mainaga said, it was “most likely not a shark bite.”

Fire fighters provided first aid to the Pāʻia woman who declined transport by medics to the hospital, said Chief Mainaga.

According to fire officials, the woman was surfing and fell off of her board when the incident occurred.

Lifeguards patrolled the beaches but nothing further was found and the beach remained open.

Authorities from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources say they have not made a determination on what caused the woman’s injury, but say they do not believe it was a shark.  They plan to interview the woman to gather further information.