A 73-year-old California man suffered minor injuries in a shark attack on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Friday morning, state officials said.
The unidentified victim was diving in front of the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Lahaina when she was attacked and lacerated, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
“The first responders, ocean safety and conservation law enforcement officers are always happy when someone walks away from a shark with minor injuries,” the department said in a statement.
The victim called 911 and was taken to a hospital, where she was interviewed by education specialist from the state’s Aquatic Resources Division, Adam Wong, as part of the ongoing documentation of shark attacks, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said. .
A stretch of the beach, popularly known as Kaanapali, will be closed until noon on Saturday, he said. Signs with the words “Shark warning spotted, keep out” were posted.
State officials said police officers would patrol the area to warn people not to enter the water.
Last month, a surfer was fatally attacked by a shark in Honolua Bay, Maui, officials said. A 14-foot tiger shark was blamed for the attack, which included “serious lacerations” on the victim’s left leg, they said.
