Shark Attack In Hawaii: Swimmer Gets Bit In Torso, Uses Knife To Free Himself

A swimmer was attacked by a shark Tuesday in Hawaii and used a knife to fend it off.

A 68-year-old man from Waikoloa was confronted by a 12-foot tiger shark at Anaehoomalu Bay on the Big Island's northwest coast, Hawaii Police Department said in a press release.

Officials said the man was taken to Queens North Hawaii Community Hospital with serious injuries. Later in the day, the man reportedly had stable vital signs and was expected to be transported to Oahu for further treatment.

"The swimmer attempted to fend off the shark with a diving knife and the shark released the swimmer," police said.

Police explained that the man was about 400 yards into the water when the shark bit him in the lower left torso.

A witness, Anthony Singh, told a local news outlet that he witnessed the shark take "a good chunk" out of the man's torso.

"It was hectic. It was brutal," Singh said.

It was the second shark attack reported in Hawaii in the past week. A 60-year-old woman from Washington state disappeared while snorkeling off southern Maui.

Despite the recent incidents, shark attacks are considered rare.

Shark warning signs were posted by Tuesday morning at Anaehoʻomalu Bay. Shark signs had been posted last Thursday in Maui.