HONOLULU — A tourist was left in “critical condition” after a “serious bite” by a shark while swimming in waters off of Maui’s north shore on Saturday afternoon, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The incident prompted several beach closures over Labor Day Weekend.
According to a news release by DLNR, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in front of the basketball courts at Paia Bay. The woman, who has been identified as being 51 years old and from France, was swimming in murky water about 100 yards from shore, according to the Maui County Police Department.
Witnesses saw the woman “was in distress and needed help,” according to the County of Maui’s social media. Upon arrival by Medic and Fire personnel, bystanders had brought the woman to shore and helped attend to her wounds, police said.
Signs were immediately put up telling people to stay out of the bay’s waters. Normally, warning signs are taken down by noon the next day. In this instance, Maui County decided to close Baldwin Beach Park, Lower Paia Beach Park and Kuau Bay Beach Park, all along the northern shore of Maui.
The beaches reopened Monday morning, Brian Perry, Communications Director for Maui County told USA TODAY.
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