‘He Almost Died’: Details Emerge from Kauai Shark Attack

Rose Keaweamahi-Hoovler recounted the phone call she received following the attack:

“That’s, like the worst call you can get as a mom. I thought he was dead. He almost died, because he lost so much blood. Four of the doctors said, 'without the tourniquets, Chance wouldn’t be here.' So, those lifeguards and Chance’s brothers saved his life.”

Following the incident, Chance was medevac’d to Queens Medical Hospital on Oahu, where he has undergone surgery to repair on artery on his calf.

Per a recent update on the GoFundMe: “Second surgery was completed today successfully… he’s being responsive shaking his head and acknowledging us even after all the meds and anesthesia.”

Reportedly, there was another surgery on Chance’s tibia, since the shark had bitten him so deep, that it reached his bone.

Kalani Vierra, Kauai Ocean Bureau Chief, detailed the incident: “The lifeguards noticed that Chance was floating on his back with a big red stain around him. They noticed he was attacked by a shark. They put on a tourniquet right away. He was going in and out of consciousness, and going into shock.”

As Chance is a local lifeguard on Kauai, Chief Vierra continued: “We love Chance. He’s a happy, humble, gentle man. He’s a really good waterman. He always has this smile on his face. It’s good to see that we were able to take care of one of our brothers.”

Chance isn’t out of the woods yet; his recovery is ongoing. Support the GoFundMe here.