‘My calf is pretty much wide open’

A surfer in Hawaii had a terrifying encounter with an 8-foot shark while surfing at Kaikoos on the South Shore of Oahu. Koa Smith, a 38-year-old father of two, described feeling something grab his ankle from behind, only to realize it was a shark attacking him.

Smith believes he was bitten by an 8-foot Galapagos shark, sustaining a 10-inch wound on his left leg and a 5-inch wound on his right. Despite the severity of the attack, Smith managed to shake off the shark and paddle back to shore, where he crawled across the sand and yelled for help. Bystanders rushed to his aid and called 911.

Following the attack on May 30, Smith underwent multiple surgeries at The Queen’s Medical Center to treat his injuries. A lifelong Oahu native with years of experience as a surfer and Coast Guard lifeguard, Smith is expected to make a full recovery in six weeks.

Reflecting on the incident, Smith expressed his eagerness to return to the ocean once he is cleared by doctors. The Honolulu Ocean Safety Department confirmed the presence of an aggressive shark near Cromwell’s Beach, where the attack occurred. Warning signs have been posted, advising ocean users to stay out of the water in the affected area.

Reports indicated the presence of two aggressive sharks, each around 8 feet in length, on the day of the attack. Despite the frightening experience, Smith remains determined to get back in the water as soon as he is able, missing the waves he loves so much.