A vacationing Romanian tourist experienced the wrong kind of surf and turf at Anaeho‘omalu Bay, Hawaii, when he was bitten by a suspected shark just 15 feet from shore.

The 20-year-old tourist, who sustained foot lacerations, was swiftly taken to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, where his injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. This bewildering encounter comes hot on the heels of a fatal shark attack near Oahu, amplifying Hawaii's already heightened concerns about ocean safety. Local authorities are investigating the incident, leaving beachgoers pondering whether it's the fish or the fate that's biting.

The incident occurred at Anaeho‘omalu Bay in Waikoloa on Hawaii’s Big Island, a popular spot known for its pristine waters and alluring marine life. However, the serene setting quickly turned into a scene of chaos on June 24, 2024. It was a day when the beach had more than just sunburns to worry about.

The tourist, who had been enjoying a swim about 15 to 20 feet offshore, suddenly felt an excruciating pain in his right foot around 5:30 p.m. 'It was like a really bad cramp, but with more blood,' he managed to joke later.

He was found bleeding profusely from lacerations on the top and bottom of his right foot before being rushed to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. Medical personnel later confirmed that his injuries were consistent with a shark bite, despite no one in his immediate vicinity witnessing any finned culprits. It's as if the shark decided to play a stealth game that left everyone puzzled.

Hawaii Island police have launched an investigation into the suspected shark attack, though they seem more flummoxed by the elusive nature of the alleged shark than anything else.

Interestingly, despite the bloody encounter, authorities stated that there were no plans to close Anaeho‘omalu Bay in the immediate aftermath. Because, apparently, nothing says 'beach safety' quite like leaving it open following a shark attack.

The unlucky Romanian tourist's experience adds to a recent spate of unsettling shark activity around Hawaii. Not long ago, 49-year-old lifeguard and professional surfer Tamayo Perry met a tragic fate in a shark attack near Goat Island off Oahu. Perry, an ocean safety veteran who had even dabbled in Hollywood with appearances in 'Blue Crush,' 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,' and 'Hawaii Five-0.'

Tamayo Perry's death sent ripples through the local community and beyond, with Emilia Perry, his wife, voicing a mix of heartbreak and a strange, calming reassurance that he’s now in a better place. He's remembered fondly for both his lightheartedness and his undying dedication to ocean safety.

As the Romanian tourist recuperates from his unexpected brush with marine life, it's a stark reminder that while the ocean offers beauty and adventure, it also comes with its own set of perils. One wouldn’t be surprised if more beachgoers stick to wading knee-deep, armed with anxiety and maybe a portable fence.