Young girl attacked by shark in Hawaii

A 15-year-old girl was attacked by a shark near the Maui beach where the shark-bitten body of a snorkeler was found just days earlier.

Photo: Young girl attacked by shark in Hawaii

The attack Monday afternoon occurred at Big Beach while the Maui girl was swimming in knee-deep water. The girl, who suffered a 15-inch (38-centimeter) gash to her left calf, told authorities that she saw a shark with a gray back.

A spokeswoman for the mayor's office said the girl was pulled from the water by a relative.

She was transported to hospital for treatment of a non-critical injury.

The attack occurred about one mile (1.6 kilometers) from where the body of snorkeler Anthony Moore was found Friday.

A preliminary autopsy found that the 45-year-old California man, who went missing Feb. 23, was likely dead before he was bitten by a shark while diving at a popular snorkeling site that features underwater caves and a large population of sea turtles.

The last fatal shark attack in Hawaii waters occurred in 2004 off Maui , reports the AP.

D.M.