Updated 12/21/20
A surfer bitten by a shark in Maui, Hawaii dies, but in Western Australia another surfer is thankful only his board was bitten
Shark warning signs have been posted on either side of Honolua Bay after Robin Warren, 56, was bitten by a shark. Warren was paddling out from an old boat ramp just before 8 a.m. Dec. 8 when he was hit by the shark.
Ocean Safety personnel assisted him from the water, and he was being treated on scene when members of the Maui Fire Department arrived. He was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition, and later was reported in stable condition, with surgery scheduled for Dec. 9.
Unfortunately Earren, who is from Nāpili, passed away two days later.
Local reports indicate water clarity was poor and the location of the incident was near a river mouth where turtles had been spotted the day before.
Photos released of the surfboard show a bite mark that measures about 17-inches wide with a piece of board roughly 12-inches wide separated from the main structure.
University of Hawaii researchers and state officials confirmed that an estimated 14-foot tiger shark was involved.
A World Surf League’s Maui Pro tournament, which began in the bay earlier this week, was put on hold indefinitely. Surfers waiting for the competition to start were asked to leave the water.
Following shark attack protocol, the Department of Natural Resources placed warning signs around the area.
A shark bit a snorkeler near the area last month.
An unidentified woman was bitten by a shark off Kaanapali Nov. 26, which is about 5 miles south of Honolua Bay. The California woman was about 100 yards from shore when a shark bit her, wounding her head, arm, chest area and leg. She was also taken to the Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Tiger sharks are known to give birth during the fall months and statistics show the small number of shark attacks on the island increase during the fall months.
Close call for surfer in Western Australia
Sam Hesltine, 59, was surfing off Cable Beach, where a fatal attack occurred last month, when his board was bitten by a shark. He was surfing around 50 meters from shore between the Surf Life Saving Club and Zanders Café a little after 7 a.m. Dec. 9.
As he was paddling for a wave he felt a big bump and was raised from his board. At first, he thought it was just a friend who was duck diving through a wave bumping into him and asked his friend if it was him. The friend said no, and the group headed into shore.
Once they were back on the beach, they found six or seven teeth marks in the rear of the board above the fin. The board was given to authorities in hopes of determining the species of shark involved.
Cable beach was the location of a fatal shark attack in November.
Charles Cernobori, 59, was bodyboarding around 30 to 40 meters off the beach when a shark grabbed his thigh.
Good Samaritans who saw thrashing in the water assisted Cernobori and pulled him to shore. Unfortunately, the father of three died.
A suspected tiger shark was seen swimming and feeding on bait balls for around 30 minutes after the attack. Police fired up to 25 pistol shots as the estimated 9- to 13-foot shark (4m), that eventually left the area.
All locations have been marked on the 2020 Shark Attack Map.
