Tourist Injured After Shark Attack Off Maui Beach
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A visitor was attacked by a shark Saturday afternoon off of Maui near Kihei hurting his leg and hand, according to county authorities.
Kyle Gruen, 29, of Vancouver, Canada, was about 30 to 40 feet offshore when a shark grabbed his left side, according to his twin brother, Jeff Gruen, who was at the beach when the attack happened.
"He was swimming along when just all of a sudden it got him," Jeff Gruen told The Honolulu Advertiser. "He pulled away and kicked it off, and it took off right away."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Maui County spokeswoman Ellen Pelissero the victim suffered lacerations to the lower part of one of his legs and a hand in the attack at about 1:15 p.m. off Kamaole Beach II.
He was listed in stable condition at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Pelissero said.
As a precaution authorities closed all three Kamaole beaches, which cover an area about one mile in either direction of the attack.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There has been three other shark attacks this year in Hawaii. The last was on May 31 at Kapaeloa when a spearfisherman was bitten on the left forearm by what was believed to be a tiger shark.