A 39-year-old surfer has been identified after being killed in a horrific shark "encounter" off the coast of Hawaii.
Jason Carter, from Haiku, was killed on Saturday after Ocean Safety Officers responded at around 11.15am to reports of a "miscellaneous type of incident."
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) revealed Carter was in the water during 'mixed' water conditions resulting from high surf. Lifeguards were seen carrying the man on a jet ski to shore where they performed life-saving measures until he was rushed to Maui Memorial Medical Centre for further treatment.
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Carter was a "legend", according to his friends (Jason Carter/Facebook)"Once onshore, life-saving measures were performed by first responder personnel until medic personnel arrived to transport the male to the Maui Memorial Medical Center for further treatment," the Maui Police Department said in a statement. The 39-year-old later succumbed to his injuries.
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Police did not call the tragic incident a shark attack and refused to go into details of Carter's injuries, but police offered their condolences to the man's family and friends. Authorities added the man was from Haiku, a small community on Maui's north side. There were no initial signs of foul play. The investigation is ongoing and an autopsy is scheduled, according to the police department.
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Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources said Carter was injured in Paia Bay, near Haiku. Shark warning signs were plastered on beaches one mile on either side of the bay following the incident.
Carter's social media shows the keen surfer enjoying the sunset at beaches. He formerly worked at ski lodges across Oregon, according to his profile.
He was a popular surfer (Jason Carter/Facebook)
Shark warning signs were in place following the death (countyofmaui/Instagram)Tributes were paid to Carter on social media with friends calling him a "legend." "Love you Brother. You are a Legend and so loved. We will continue to shred down here and know you will too. RIP," one man wrote.
"Oh man. Another amazing friend and an amazing person gone," another remarked. "Rest easy my friend." In addition, a friend wrote that Carter's smile would 'always be in my head,' adding: 'Thanks for everything.'
Authorities confirmed that nearby Baldwin Beach Park and Baby Beach would be closed on Saturday. The Hawaii DLNR added: "Unfortunately the man passed away. He was surfing and water conditions were reported as ‘mixed’ due to high surf conditions. Following standard protocols, shark warning signs are up one mile on either side of the incident site from Tavares Bay to Baby Beach.
"By noon on Sunday, if no further signs of shark activity are detected, signs will be taken down,' the department said in a Facebook post. The incident is the seventh shark encounter in Hawaii waters this year.
The shark encounter comes after a woman was killed while paddle-boarding near the Bahamas. 44-year-ol d Lauren Erickson Van Wart from Boston, Massachusetts, was named by police as the victim after search and rescue teams found her paddle-board floating near the scene last month. Lauren was reportedly killed just one day after having a marriage blessing,
Lauren had been seen laughing and talking on her paddleboard in the waters off the coast of New Providence Island near the Sandals Resort. She had been swimming with family, the RBPF previously stated in a news release.
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