A surfer was attacked by a shark on Tuesday morning near Honolua Bay in Hawaii, forcing a surfing competition to be postponed, officials said.
A 56-year-old man, who has not yet been identified by authorities, fled the shores of Maui when the accident happened, state wildlife officials said.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he was admitted for surgery, according to the state wildlife department. It was not immediately clear what the man’s condition was or how serious the injuries were.
In a photo posted on the department’s website on Tuesday, a large portion of the surfboard can be seen missing from the rest of the board.
The incident prompted officials to suspend the Maui Pro of the World Surf League, which began earlier this week following a shark accident. The surfer attacked was not participating in the competition.
The World Surf League said on Twitter on Tuesday, “There will be no contest on Maui Pro today after the shark incident.” “WSL is working with officials and our thoughts are with the victims of this incident. Maui Pro is on hold until further notice. “
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, which monitors shark attacks around the world, Hawaii has carried out 171 shark attacks since 1837 – the second highest number of shark attacks in the state after Florida.
According to the database, Florida 852 shark attacks in the U.S.
