Shark Attacks Surfer Off Hawaii
9th attack in the state this year
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A 16-year-old surfer has been hospitalized after being attacked by a shark Sunday afternoon off the Big Island of Hawaii. His condition remains unclear, though reports note that he was bitten on both legs and airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the water along the coastline, southeast of hilo, after the attack. Earlier that day, officials at another Hawaii beach closed the waters after lifeguards spotted a shark, the Associated Press reports.
Last Wednesday, a shark attacked a German tourist off Maui. Monday’s incident marks the 9th shark attack this year, compared to 12 in 2013. Scientists are blaming the uptick in shark encounters on murky water from tropical storm Flossie.