HILO, Hawaii -- Hawaii officials say a man has been seriously hurt in a shark attack while stand-up paddleboarding, prompting authorities to close part of a beach on the Big Island.
State Department of Land and Natural Resources Dan Dennison said in an email alert that the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Saturday on Kukio Beach near Hualalai.
People on the beach heard the victim screaming and ran to help. Witnesses applied multiple tourniquets until paramedics arrived.
A 25-year-old man was airlifted by Hawaii County Fire Department firefighters to a hospital with multiple injuries to his hand and leg. He's listed in critical condition.
Dennison says per standard procedure, beach closure signs warning visitors will be displayed for a mile (1.6 kilometers) on either side of the incident for the rest of the day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.