Hawaii fisherman survives shark attack, performs own lifesaving care
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A Hawaii fisherman is speaking out after a shocking encounter on the water left him fighting for his life and relying on instincts he never expected to use.
The 22-year-old diver says what started as an ordinary day in the ocean suddenly turned violent when he discovered a shark tangled in his fishing net; He describes this moment as the one that changed everything.
Josiah Kaimani Ventura, a commercial fisherman, told Fox News Digital that he dived into a cave for a rare species of fish, when he surfaced he noticed the shark struggling in the net.
“Everyone in Hawaii wants to help; this is our kulana,” he said, referring to the cultural responsibility of caring for the ocean. “That’s all I was trying to do.”
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Alone on the beach, Ventura told Fox News Digital that he used his wetsuit to make a tourniquet that saved his life. (Josiah Kaimani Ventura)
However, as it got closer, the shark was shaken free.
“It just popped up and latched onto my thigh,” he said. “No warning. One moment he was calm, the next he had me.”
The force of the bite sent shockwaves through his leg. Kaimani Ventura refused to look at the wound, even as blood flowed into the water around him.
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After the attack, doctors closed Ventura’s wound with 70 staples and 90 stitches. (Josiah Kaimani Ventura)
“I am a restless person,” he said. “I knew if I looked, I would pass out. The only thing on my mind was: Get to shore and breathe.”
He swam about 40 meters into shallow water and pushed away what he called “clouds of blood” that spread around him. When he finally reached water shallow enough to stand, he risked looking at his leg.
“I saw everything in it,” he said. “This should have been the moment I fainted and died.”
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Instead, he was driven by adrenaline and what he described as divine intervention.
Alone on the shoreline with his friends still far behind, Kaimani Ventura forced himself onto the beach and began taking life-saving measures on his own. He peeled off the fabric of his wetsuit, applied double compression to the wound, and then tightened his own tourniquet.
“Thank God he kept my mind clear,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done any of this.”
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Josiah Kaimani Ventura shows off the scars left after surviving a shark attack. (Josiah Kaimani Ventura)
Instead of calling 911, the first person she called was her mother.
“I knew I had to hear his voice,” she said. “At first she got scared and I had to hang up. When I called back, she composed herself like mothers do. She helped me stay calm.”
It took approximately 20 minutes for the ambulance to be called and another 45 minutes of off-road driving before Josiah could meet first responders on the main road.
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Paramedics removed the makeshift tourniquet and rushed him to Kona General Hospital after applying his own tourniquet; where surgeons closed the large bite with 70 staples and 90 stitches.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) confirmed to Fox News Digital that they were aware of the incident and are investigating it.
Even after surviving an easily fatal shark attack, Kaimani Ventura said his respect for the ocean and his lifestyle remain unchanged.
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Despite the near-fatal encounter, fisherman Josiah Kaimani Ventura said he will return to the ocean after recovering. (Josiah Kaimani Ventura)
“I personally haven’t learned my lesson,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll always be in the water. That’s who I am.”
But he has a message for others.
“Everyone in the house, don’t do what I did,” he said. “If you see an injured or entangled animal, especially a predator, document it and report it. Let NOAA or wildlife officials handle it.”
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Kaimani Ventura works four physically demanding jobs: commercial fishing, construction, landscaping and caregiving; He won’t be able to get back to all of this for at least six months. Still, he considers himself lucky.
“Thank God, I walked away with a scar and a reminder, not a loss,” he said. “I’m lucky. Really lucky. Others may not be. So if my story helps someone make a safer decision, it’s worth it.”
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Despite everything, he is already looking forward.
“I will return to the field as if nothing happened,” he said. “The ocean is my home. I’m not done with it yet.”
Stepheny Price covers crimes including missing persons, murders and immigration crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
