Man dies after shark encounter in Hawaii

(CNN) — A man died Saturday morning in Hawaii after suffering what authorities called “shark encounter injuries” off the coast of Maui.

At 11:19 a.m. local time, police responded to a beach area on Hana Highway in Paia. Officers used a jet ski to bring a 39-year-old man to shore after being injured in a “shark encounter,” police said. In a Maui police press release.

After bringing the man to shore, lifeguards performed “lifesaving measures” until medics arrived to transport him to Maui Memorial Medical Center, according to the news release.

The man later succumbed to his injuries, police said. Authorities said they were withholding his identity for 24 hours “to allow his family an opportunity to inform his family and friends.”

The researchers noted that there is a high probability Shark bites in Hawaii from October to DecemberAccording to the Division of Aquatic Resources, part of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Shark attacks, especially deadly ones, are rare: on average, sharks are killed Five people a year in unprovoked attacks, CNN previously reported. According to the International Shark Attack File, the odds of being fatally attacked by one of these carnivorous fish are less than 1 in 4 million. Experts attribute many shark bite cases to Identity confusionEspecially in waters with poor visibility.

According to records, the last shark encounter in Hawaii occurred on December 8, 2022, when a diver died.

CNN's Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.