Aussie fishermen catch tiger shark.
Aussie fishermen know what to do with a tiger shark. And it don't involve petting etc. | Photo: Port Hacking Game Fishing Club

Iconic Hawaiian surf spot closed after surfer attacked by tiger shark

"Doctors are uncertain and predict a long road to recovery."

Hanalei Bay is a two-mile stretch of white sand beach with a righthand point in its northern corner that’ll hold fifteen feet and then some. In the middle of the long crescent of sand is the beachbreak, Pine Trees, famous for turning those two poor local boys, Andrew and Bruce Irons, into two of the world’s greatest surfers.

Well, yesterday afternoon at Pine Trees, three-ish the waters ran a pinkish hue after the local lifeguard Chance Swanson was attacked by a tiger shark while surfing Pine Trees. 

Swanson suffered serious leg injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics before being transferred to Wilcox Medical Center, the same joint that treated Bethany Hamilton when her arm was ripped off to a fourteen-foot tiger shark in 2003. 

He was pushed into surgery real quick to repair the artery on his left calf and is being prepped for surgery to fix the fibula. According to his mama Rose, he’s sedated and on a ventilator.

No swimming signs were posted on the shoreline at Hanalei Bay and lifeguards are warning beachgoers to stay out of the beach until further notice. 

Swanson’s mama Rose has since setup a GoFundMe, a wise decision given the user-pays model that bedevils US society.

Chance is a well-respected lifeguard and surfer, and one of the humblest people you will ever meet. He embodies the true spirit of Aloha, and is a shining star, always happy and smiling.

The first responders on the scene did a fantastic job which ended up saving his life. Chance sustained series injuries to his left leg. Doctors are uncertain and predict a long road to recovery. Chance needed to be medevac’d to Queens Medical on Oahu for further treatment. His insurance will only cover a portion of this treatment, leaving him with an uncertainty of bills ahead.

So far, seventy-eight gees of a 100k goal, which should cover a couple of x-rays and a squirt of antiseptic.

Hanalei Bay has form when it comes to tigers giving hell to humans.

Apart from Bethany Hamilton, in 2023, Kevin Kanehe nearly lost his leg after being hit by a fifteen-footer and in 2019, a local firefighter applied his own tourniquet to a potentially catastrophic wound following a thirteen-footer’s bite.

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Barrelled
Barrelled
10 months ago

That is a big ass Tiger on a little ass Aussie boat. But what do you do with that ball of mercury laden meat? If you choose to eat it, don’t be all butthurt when a shark eats a person. That’s called karma.

And, Bethany got hit at Tunnels (about a 4 miles from Hanalei), not Hanalei. Kevin Kanehe is the only one on the list that got hit at the point, solid mile from Pine Trees.

Kama'aina
Kama'aina
10 months ago
Reply to  Barrelled

This one was at Middles. Not sure why everything is saying Pine Trees.

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
10 months ago
Reply to  Barrelled

Nearish, but yeah, good point.

Sean Connery
Sean Connery
10 months ago

UPDATE: Already crested 100k in two days. Sweet Mama Rose has smartly moved the goal posts to 180k. Impressive stuff. More info as it comes available.

Rocks local
Rocks local
10 months ago
Reply to  Sean Connery

this one got me, tossed a couple $$ in the pot – hope this kid makes a full recovery, comes back better than ever etc.

ps now up to 118k and change

Abscessed Llama
Abscessed Llama
10 months ago

Super Bummer.. Wonder if I should draw some eyes on the bottom of my board for future surfs in that zone?

"Helmets... Period."
"Helmets... Period."
10 months ago
Mapski
Mapski
10 months ago

Didn’t figure you for the widowmaker fin set up.

Barrelled
Barrelled
10 months ago
Reply to  Mapski

What is that hideous looking board made of cloth?

Sellme fitzgobbins
Sellme fitzgobbins
10 months ago

Beware there are sharks in the ocean !

"Helmets... Period."
"Helmets... Period."
10 months ago

big if true

Occy's Nostril
Occy's Nostril
10 months ago

Kinda time to kill some of the cunts. We put killers in jail. If no death penalty get Kelly Slater to build a super max aquarium & put them in there. Yard exercise in the wave pool. Orcas as prison guards…

Durban Poison
Durban Poison
10 months ago

‘Glad’ we mainly have Great Whites and Bull Sharks around here to watch out for. But those Tiger Sharks are certainly beautiful looking animals. Good luck to the guy that was bitten.

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
10 months ago
Reply to  Durban Poison

Interestingly, tigers, unlike, whites, don’t stick around to finish the job.

Durban Poison
Durban Poison
10 months ago

Cmonnn, thats complete fake news and you know it. Many recorded instances of GW incidents where they bump, sometimes have a taste and then fuck off because we’re clearly not their prey.

@TheRealJackMeoff
@TheRealJackMeoff
10 months ago

Not true.
Plenty of accounts of Tigers finishing up the job.
Just youtube the Egypt shark attack for an example.
Having just rewatched it I don’t want to link it because that is snuff shit, but if you do watch it, you will see his number one mistake was not fighting back.
You have to get a finger in the eye or a hand in the gills, anything to switch its prey instincts.

deeks
deeks
10 months ago

That’s a decent boat right there. Is that a dedicated door entry ? Or are they pulling it over the transom. More questions than answers

RQ.
RQ.
10 months ago
Reply to  deeks

fuckin gigantic looking thing.

channelbottom
channelbottom
10 months ago
Reply to  RQ.

Girthy, to be sure.

Derek Hynd's Missing Fins
Derek Hynd's Missing Fins
10 months ago
Reply to  RQ.

That’s what she said.

Barrelled
Barrelled
10 months ago
Reply to  deeks

Pretty sure that’s a dedicated entry door but not for sharks, for people.


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