KAAAWA, Oahu, Hawaii (11 Sep 2008) — A man is in stable condition after a shark attacked him off Oahu near an area where at least one company sells shark feeding dives. Hawaii authorities told CDNN the victim, a male in his 40s, was surfing off Oahu when a shark tore a large chunk out of his right leg and also injured his hands and arms. The shark attack victim was rushed to Queen's Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition. Public safety officials and lifeguards on Oahu warned tourists and locals to stay out of the ocean due to the threat of shark attacks. "We paddled out to a few people that were close to the shore today and they came back as soon as we notified them," City Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Lieutenant John Hoogsteden said. Despite efforts to prevent people from swimming, diving, snorkeling and surfing in areas where sharks attack humans, Hawaii officials admitted they cannot stop shark feeding companies who operate 'legally' three miles offshore where the state has no legal jurisdiction. | | Although Hawaii banned shark feeding in 2002, at least one company -- Hawaii Shark Encounters -- continues to endanger locals and tourists by feeding sharks for thrill-seeking tourists at sites just beyond the three-mile limit. Hawaii Shark Encounters was founded by Jimmy Hall, a self-promoting You Tube video whacko who killed himself when he jumped off a cliff in Canada and broke every bone in his body. |
