Woman hospitalized after apparent shark attack

A woman was hospitalized Sunday afternoon after an apparent shark attack at Puako Bay in South Kohala.

Responding to the 4:30 p.m. report, fire rescue personnel arrived at 69-1862 Puako Beach Drive to find a woman in her 70s with an apparent shark bite to her ankle, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. The woman reported that she was snorkeling in waters about 10 feet deep when she was bitten by a shark estimated at 8 feet.

The woman was able to get back to shore on her own. Once out of the water, an off-duty ocean safety staffer provided bleeding control prior to the arrival of medics, according to the department. The woman was taken in stable condition to North Hawaii Community Hospital for treatment.

A subsequent aerial survey by Chopper 2 turned up no sign of a shark in the area, the department said.