{"id":925,"date":"2026-06-04T08:34:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T08:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=925"},"modified":"2026-06-04T08:34:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T08:34:47","slug":"cromwells-beach-shark-attack-survivor-continues-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=925","title":{"rendered":"Cromwell\u2019s Beach shark attack survivor continues recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Veteran Oahu surfer Koa Smith is recovering after a shark attack off Oahu\u2019s South Shore left him with serious injuries to both legs.<\/p>\n

Read more Police seek suspects in thefts, vandalism at Waimanalo Elementary<\/a><\/p>\n

Smith, 38, was surfing at Kaikoos on Saturday morning when he said he felt something grabbed him from behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really did feel like somebody just came from behind, grabbed my ankle and pulled,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAnd I was just confused. So I turned around to see who\u2019s doing this, who\u2019s grabbing me. And yeah, it was just a shark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith believes the animal was an approximately 8-foot Galapagos shark.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Despite suffering severe injuries to his leg and foot, Smith managed to make it back to shore at nearby Cromwell\u2019s Beach. He then crawled across the sand and yelled for help before three bystanders rushed to assist him until first responders arrived.<\/p>\n

Smith said the attack left him with a 10-inch wound on one leg and a 5-inch wound on the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my left leg. The whole side of my calf is pretty much wide open,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then my right foot has a pretty big gash on it. Yeah, so it got both legs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The husband and father of two underwent multiple surgeries following the attack and remains hospitalized at The Queen\u2019s Medical Center.<\/p>\n

His wife, Dennae Smith, recalled learning about the incident when Smith\u2019s brother came to their home.<\/p>\n

\u201cKoa\u2019s brother actually came to our bedroom window and was yelling for me,\u201d she said. \u201cThe first thing he said was, \u2018He\u2019s okay.\u2019 But he got attacked by a shark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Iolani Palace to honor 50th Anniversary of Hokulea\u2019s maiden voyage<\/a><\/p>\n

Dennae Smith said she and her husband faced difficult conversations with their children as the family processed the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had a lot of really intelligent questions about it,\u201d she said. \u201cOur son understood a little bit more than our four-year-old. He was really bummed that Koa didn\u2019t have a shark tooth to have as a souvenir, but they took it really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Smith, an Oahu-born surfer and self-employed carpenter, spent four years working as a Coast Guard lifeguard. He said the ocean has been a central part of his life for decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in the water my entire life,\u201d Smith said. \u201cSurfing over 30 years, but I also dive, body surf, body board. Pretty much my entire life is in the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doctors expect Smith to make a full recovery in about six weeks, and he could be released from the hospital as soon as this weekend.<\/p>\n

Despite the attack, Smith said he has no plans to stay out of the water permanently.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust watching on Instagram all the waves that I\u2019m missing kind of sucks,\u201d he said. \u201cBut as soon as the doctors let me, I\u2019m back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more 5 juveniles charged; unknown man identified in North Shore mob beating<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Veteran surfer Koa Smith is recovering after a shark bit both of his legs at a South Shore surf break. 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