Hawai‘i police: Swimmer in stable condition after shark bite

WAIKOLOA — For the second time in less than a week, Hawai‘i officials put up shark warning signs after a shark bit a man Tuesday.

The man, a 68-year-old from Waikoloa, was swimming about 400 yards (365 meters) from shore at Anaehoomalu Bay on the Big Island when he was bitten on the lower left torso, Hawai‘i county Police said.

“The swimmer attempted to fend off the shark with a diving knife and the shark released the swimmer,” police said in a news release.

The man was taken to an island hospital. He was in stable condition and was to be transported to O‘ahu for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said the tiger shark was reported to be 12 feet long.

Warning signs subsequently went up at the bay in Waikoloa, a resort area.

Shark signs were previously posted last Thursday off southern Maui after a 60-year-old woman visiting from Washington state disappeared while snorkeling. Her husband and witnesses told officials she was attacked by a shark. The search of the area around Keawakapu Point was called off Friday.