Updated at 4:46 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2006
Vancouver man survives shark attack off Maui
Advertiser Staff
WAILUKU, Maui — A 29-year-old Vancouver man was attacked by a shark today while swimming off Kama'ole Beach Park II in Kihei.Kyle Gruen was about 30 to 40 feet offshore when the shark grabbed his left side at about 12:30 p.m., injuring his thigh and hand.
Gruen was carried to shore by bystanders and taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he was expected to be stitched up.
"He was swimming along when just all of a sudden it got him," said his twin brother, Jeff Gruen, who was at the beach when the shark attack happened. "He pulled away and kicked it off, and it took off right away."
Gruen did not get a good look at the shark, his brother said.
County and state aquatics officials followed protocol and closed the stretch of shoreline where the attack occurred. The beaches will remain closed at least until tomorrow morning.
There were three previous shark attacks this year in Hawai'i, the last occuring May 31 near Chun's Reef on O'ahu's North Shore when a spearfisherman was bitten on the left forearm by what was believed to be a tiger shark.
