Maui is known as the hot spot for shark attacks in Hawaii. (Shutterstock)

Shark Attack Kills Californian Man While Swimming Off Maui

A 65-year-old California tourist was suspected to have died in an apparent shark attack on Saturday (5/25) when he swam off the coast of Maui. As reported by KHON2-TV, the significant injuries found in this man were consistent with a shark attack.

The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety confirmed that this unidentified man swam 60 yards of the beach in the Kaanapali Shores area in western Maui. When the attack occurred the weather was clear and the sea calms. Responding to the witness report, local authorities sent assistance with a helicopter and Jet Ski to find the man and bring him to the shore. The rescue team performed CPR yet he was unresponsive and declared dead at the scene.

Since the Saturday’s attack, officials have set up shark attack warning signs in Ka’anapali Beach Park and reassessed the danger on Sunday (5/26).

According to shark expert Michael Domeier, this attack would be the first fatal shark attack in Maui since 2015. So far this year there were six shark attacks in Maui, which is known as the 'hot spot' for shark attacks in Hawaii. However, he emphasized that the chances of being attacked or killed by sharks are minuscule.

In spite of the recent attack, the somber truth is sharks only kill around six people per year on average worldwide. Moreover, most shark populations are declining in consequence of overfishing and habitat loss. Whereas fisheries kill about 100 million sharks and rays annually, as noted by the International Shark Attack File.