A lifeguard in Hawaii is in critical condition after a shark attack at a popular beach. Chance Swanson, 33, was found unconscious in the water, surrounded by blood, and was quickly taken to the hospital for severe leg injuries. His mother has started a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical expenses, stating that doctors are uncertain about his recovery, which is expected to be a long process.
Rose Keaweamahi-Hoovler, Swanson’s mother, shared that the shark attack occurred on November 5, 2025, at Hanalei Bay, Kauai. Describing her son as a respected lifeguard and surfer with a humble personality, she expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers for Chance’s recovery, seeking support for the challenges ahead.
Kalani Vierra, the Chief of the Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau, reported that lifeguards spotted Swanson floating in the water with a significant red stain around him. Upon closer inspection, they realized he had been shark-attacked and promptly applied a tourniquet to his injuries.
In a separate incident, a 7-year-old boy was attacked by a 13-foot shark on the French Polynesian island of Nuku Hiva while playing with friends in July. Witnesses recounted that the shark bit the boy’s forearm, hand, and calf as he jumped from a fisherman’s dock in Taiohae Bay. The boy was treated on the island before being airlifted to a hospital in Tahiti, about 1,500km away. Shark attacks in French Polynesia are rare and often associated with activities like spearfishing and handling fish traps, both of which are prohibited due to the risk they pose.
