HILO — Two anglers who spent a harrowing night in the ocean surrounded by sharks after being swept to sea on the Hamakua Coast were rescued Friday morning.
According to Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Darwin Okinaka, the pair had been fishing at a spot off the 7.5-mile marker of Honokaa-Waipio Road (Highway 240) since Thursday when a rogue wave hit the shoreline.
“One got washed off into the water. The other one tried to help and … got swept into the ocean, as well, so both of them ended up in the water. I don’t have the timeline, but I know they spent the night in the ocean, adrift.”
Okinaka said the father of one became concerned when his son didn’t return home and called a friend familiar with the area. The friend checked to see if he could find the anglers. When that failed, authorities were notified.
Nine units, including both county helicopters, were dispatched to the scene after the alarm was sounded at 8:28 a.m.
“In the process of getting our units out there, we got a call from Paradise Helicopters, who said they saw two people out floating in the water, with sharks surrounding them — three tiger sharks is what they said — a half-mile to a mile offshore in the general area,” Okinaka said. “They provided a great service to keep eyes on the victims in the water until our units came on scene. I believe they were doing some flight maneuvers to keep the sharks away, to keep them at bay.”
Okinaka said Chopper 2 arrived first, but would have needed to land ashore to set up its Billy Pugh rescue net, so instead it took over watch duties and used aerial maneuvers in an attempt to scare away the sharks until Chopper 1 arrived with its Billy Pugh net ready.
The two, who weren’t identified, were rescued about 500 yards offshore. When spotted, they were clinging to a branch and trying to remain afloat while three sharks circled.
The pair told rescuers they had been in the water since late Thursday afternoon. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.