Surfer viciously mauled by 15ft shark uses precise finger trick to fight it off

21 October 2023 , 17:56

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Kevin Kanehe was surfing at Hawaii's Hanalei Bay when he was ambushed by the giant predator (Image: gofundme.com)

A surfer has undergone multiple surgeries after almost losing his leg and sustaining serious injuries to his hand when he was attacked by a huge 15 foot shark.

Kevin Kanehe, 50, was enjoying the waves at Hawaii's Hanalei Bay on Sunday when a tiger shark, measuring almost 15 feet, clamped down on his left leg. But Kevin wasn't going to go down without a fight, and managed to get the shark to let go after he stuck his finger in the beast's nostril.

Doctors have said that if the shark had been able to complete its bite and fully chomp down on Kevin's leg, he would have lost it. He's since undergone an operation on his leg and another on his hand and is now recovering in hospital with doctors estimating it will take him as long as a year to recover.

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Kevin is potentially going to need further surgeries and intense rehabilitation (gofundme.com)

Kevin faces up to a year of recovery and potentially further surgeries (gofundme.com)

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help him cover the expensive medical bills that are now going to start piling up. Kevin and partner Deanna have two children, 19-year-old Kalei who's at college in Santa Barbara, California, and 12-year-old Aleia.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

The organiser explained: "Kevin's salary will need to be replaced in addition to medical bills, therapies/rehab and possible follow up surgeries. There is a long road ahead and many hurdles to overcome and I am humbly asking for support from the community to help this wonderful family through the challenging times ahead. The support will provide some needed stability and strength for a full recovery."

According to Deanna, Kevin was surfing in Hanalei Bay on Sunday afternoon when he was grabbed by the shark. She explained: "He was paddling for a wave, sat up on his board to turn around and got hit hard from the left side.

"People that saw it have guessed 12-15 foot tiger shark. The jaws grabbed ahold of his left leg and Kevin used his hands to try to lift it off, one of his fingers went in its nostrils and then it let go. Later the doctors said if it had clamped down and completed the bite he would have lost his leg."

Doctors said if the shark had managed to fully bite down Kevin would have lost his leg (gofundme.com)

The shark also left its mark on his surfboard (gofundme.com)

In a stroke of pure luck, a beachgoer just happened to have a tourniquet and bandages on her. People rushed to help Kevin, who was left with a grisly injury.

"The bite went to the bone above and below his knee," explained Deanne, "taking some chips off his femur, kneecap and tibia. His knee was torn up pretty bad and into his joint too."

Despite his gruesome injuries, Kevin remained "calm" throughout it all, with Deanne saying he's in a "good" state of mind and "remembers every detail and thought he had". Apparently, moments after being attacked by the shark, Kevin's first thought was: "If I lose my leg I'm going to get a prosthetic like Mike Coots so I can surf again."

Deanne thanked people for their support following the terrifying attack. She said: "The outpouring of love and prayers and positive wishes has been overwhelming and fills our hearts. We are so blessed to live in such a caring community. It's a horrible thing that happened but we are so grateful he has his leg and his life."

Fiona Leishman