A 61-year-old man was the victim of a shark attack while enjoying morning waves at Waiehu Beach Park's "Sand Piles" surf spot, according to Maui County officials. The incident happened early yesterday morning, and the surfer suffered a severe injury with a completely severed leg just below the knee.

County of Maui Police and Fire personnel were quick to respond after the emergency call at 7:05 a.m. The police were the first to arrive at the scene and immediately applied life-saving measures, including two Combat Application Tourniquets to manage the bleeding before other help arrived. The victim, while not unnamed, was conscious and alert while being tended to on the shore, as reported by the County of Maui.

The critically injured surfer was promptly taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center for further medical attention, yet his current condition remains unknown as of now. Following protocol, the region from Paukūkalo to Waihe‘e has been off-limits to swimmers and the like as officials investigate and ensure safety, explained Maui's Fire and Public Safety Assistant Chief Jeff Giesea.

In the wake of the attack, the area’s beaches have been closed, and the usual security measures have been amplified, including patrols by Ocean Safety Officers and the deployment of a drone to scan the waters for signs of shark activity. The Maui Fire Department personnel are also keeping a vigilant eye on the nearby waters. Despite historically being the first responders to such marine incidents, the DLNR has shifted its policy, making its involvement conditional on the County's request for mutual aid, which was indeed enacted yesterday, as noted by Maui County's official communication.

The beach is to remain closed with warning signs in place until further assessments can confirm the absence of further threats. The gate to Waiehu Beach Park stays shut; this is to ensure that no beachgoer steps into harm's way without realizing it. The DLNR's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers have already put up shark warning signs and are assisting with securing the perimeter.