Kailua-Kona woman injured in struggle with tiger shark

West Hawaii Today ^ | November 1, 2014 | BRET YAGER

[LeoWindhorse]

A 34-year-old Kailua-Kona woman who was gripped in a struggle with a tiger shark off North Kohala feels fortunate to have escaped without deadly injury.

That McKenzie Clark made it out of the encounter with a 12- to 15-foot tiger shark with injuries only to fingers and a hand is likely because of a companion wrestling the shark and beating it with his fist.

Wargo grabbed the dorsal fin with both hands and the shark pulled him off the board. Wargo yelled for Clark to get on her board.

“I got my right hand free and I started hitting it as hard as I could between the gills and the dorsal fin,” Wargo said.

“It felt like I was going to break my hand. About the sixth hit, I felt the shark shudder and turn away from her.”

[LeoWindhorse]

This guy , Brian Wargo , is a total hero . Imagine wrestling 15 foot tiger shark that is in attack mode . He deserves national recognition . Unbelievable story .

[Diana in Wisconsin]

See? SEE? THIS is why I do NOT go into the ocean, beyond the tide pools.

Beyond that, YOU are BAIT! :)

[SandRat]

Gibbs RULE 9, never go anywhere without a knife

[driftdiver]

Tidal pools? Sharks only need 2 feet of water.

[LeoWindhorse]

can you imagine what that poor woman was feeling?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes. Like BAIT! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I know! A little bit of snorkeling and then I’m done. :)

[doorgunner69]

Tide pools in Hawaii often have large Moray eels in them.

[LeoWindhorse]

yet , like Bethany Hamilton , she’ll probably be back out on her surf board as soon as she heals up . Surfers are like that

[Inyo-Mono]

See? SEE? THIS is why I do NOT go into the ocean, beyond the tide pools.

Beyond that, YOU are BAIT! :)

I neither swim in the ocean nor hike on the Serengeti plains.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes. I’ve been to Kauai. In, quick snorkel and OUT, LOL!

[Hot Tabasco]

Active volcanoes, flowing lava, killer tiger sharks.......

[stanne]

Chivalry will never die.

It’s natural law.

Good story.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

And I make it a point not to roller skate in a Buffalo herd. *SMIRK*

[Joe 6-pack]

'See? SEE? THIS is why I do NOT go into the ocean, beyond the tide pools.'

Great White Shark in Massachusetts salt pond

[driftdiver]

The first time you see the distinctive shape of a shark headed towards you when scuba diving is an interesting experience. The heart gets going for sure but not so bad.

Then there’s night dives when you can only see what’s in your flashlight beam. Things swoop in and out of the light faster then you can identify them. Try to ignore the feeling that something is sneaking up behind you out of the pitch black water.

Now that was scary

[LeoWindhorse]

rarely a dull moment

wait til the counter Hawaiian sovereignty struggle gets underway

[Vendome]

[Vendome]

Zactly....

[Vendome]