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Shark attacks off Waikiki, Lanikai seriously injure 2 men

COURTESY BRIAN TONG
Firefighters patrol Lanikai Beach after a 44-year-old man was bitten by a shark today.

Shark attacks in waters off Oahu seriously injured two men within eight hours today.

In the latest incident, a 32-year-old male was in serious condition after being attacked by a shark off Waikiki, according to city Emergency Medical Services.

Paramedics responded to 2425 Kalakaua Ave., near the Honolulu Police Department substation, at 7:20 p.m. They treated the victim and took him to a hospital in serious condition.

At 11:40 a.m., paramedics responded to a call at 1502 Mokulua Drive involving a 44-year-old man who was injured in an apparent shark attack off Lanikai.

The Lanikai victim and another man were swimming to shore from the Mokulua Islands, when the shark attacked. The attack happened about 50 to 100 yards from shore, the Honolulu Fire Department said.

The victim sustained injuries to his lower legs but the other man was not injured.

Two nearby kayakers paddled the men back to shore, where HFD personnel and paramedics treated the victim, who was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

HFD and Ocean Safety officials notified swimmers and cleared Kailua, Lanikai and Mokulua beaches.

Today’s two attacks come just eight days after 25-year-old Colin Cook was bitten by a shark at the North Shore surf spot known as Leftovers. He lost his left leg above his knee and is recovering at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Today’s incidents are the sixth and seventh shark attacks in Hawaii waters this year.

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