Imagine this: a 61-year-old surfing legend, well-acquainted with the waves and a familiar face at his local break, suddenly finds himself in a terrifying encounter with one of the ocean’s most feared creatures. Over the past year, shark attacks have been making headlines along the U.S. coast, particularly in hotspots like Florida and Hawaii. Up until June 2024, these encounters, while frightening, had resulted in only minor injuries—none fatal. However, a chilling new report has now emerged from Maui.

On Friday morning, a shark attacked a surfer, known by his friends as “Kenji,” near Waiehu Beach Park. It was just after 7 a.m. at a popular surf spot called “Sandpiles,” where Kenji, a familiar face in the local surfing community, was waiting on his board when the unthinkable happened. Friends say Kenji was simply sitting on his board, enjoying the surf, when the shark suddenly lunged at him, biting into his leg.

Nearby surfers rushed into action, with witnesses describing the terrifying moment when they heard Kenji’s desperate cries for help. David Basques, who was present, said, “I heard this yell and I looked, and all of a sudden I just seen him splash, and I don’t know what was happening.” Despite the trauma, Kenji displayed incredible grit, swimming halfway back to shore before others jumped in to help bring him safely onto land.

As Kenji begins his long road to recovery, his GoFundMe page reveals his unbroken spirit. Fresh out of surgery and in the ICU, he reportedly said, “I still love the ocean!” For now, Maui officials have shut down access to the beach park, with lifeguards patrolling the waters, cautioning beachgoers to stay out from Paukukalo to Waihee until it’s safe to return.

And here’s the latest scoop: Kenji has moved out of the ICU and into the PCU, where he’s bright-eyed and brimming with joy from the outpouring of love and well wishes from his Maui ‘ohana and beyond. This harrowing accident hasn’t dimmed his stoke one bit! He’s got a long road to recovery ahead, but he’s staying positive and strong. In his own wise words, he beams, “tomorrow mo’ betta!” But hold on, because this isn’t the first shark attack that’s made waves in the news!

Surfing stars caught in the waves with a shark!

You heard it right—there are more stories to share! Earlier in October, Teddy Wittemann, a young surfer from Brevard County, hit the Florida beach, ready to ride some waves stirred up by recent storms. It was all fun until he slipped off his board and felt an intense grip on his arm. When he looked down, he realized he was face-to-face with a 6-foot bull shark! “Just out of nowhere, it got the inside of my arm and (snaps finger) just like that,” he recalled. Thankfully, his friends helped him get back to shore and called 911 while tying a makeshift tourniquet.

You’d think a scare like that would put someone off surfing for life, but not Teddy! He’s eager to get back on his board as soon as he’s healed. “Because it is what I love to do. I love surfing. I mean, I do it every day…” he said. Teddy’s keeping his dreams of going pro alive, and luckily, he escaped without serious injuries. Another surfer, Kai McKenzie, is also making a comeback after losing his leg to a shark just three months ago. Kai is gearing up to dive back into surfing despite his setback. He was airlifted to the hospital after a 3-meter white shark bit him on July 23, and although doctors couldn’t reattach his leg, he’s now using a prosthetic and is committed to rehab.

But reports of shark attacks started coming in as early as June, with Florida leading the way. On June 7, a 45-year-old woman was bitten while swimming at Watersound Beach, followed by two teenage girls just two hours later. Even with all this drama, the surfing spirit in Florida remains strong. Charley Hejak, a 62-year-old surfer who also faced a shark, boldly stated, “Sharks are harmless. Well, until you step on one.” Teddy echoes that sentiment, saying he won’t let a “little hiccup” hold him back. So, while shark attacks might be rising, the adventurous surf crowd isn’t backing down anytime soon!