Man Returns to Surfing Less Than 2 Months After Losing Part of His Leg in Shark Attack

A 61-year-old surfer in Hawaii is glad to be back in the water just weeks after losing part of his right leg in a shark attack.

According to a previous press release from County of Maui Police and Fire officials, Kenji Nonaka was bitten on the leg by a shark while surfing at the “Sand Piles” on Waiehu Beach Park on Friday, Nov. 1.

The attack left his right leg “completely severed just below the knee,” taking him away from his routine morning surfing sessions that he had embarked on for over 30 years, according to a GoFundme launched to raise funds for his recovery.

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An update shared on the campaign on Nov. 7 said that he had been released from the hospital and was “super motivated to begin the rehab and recovery process to get back into the ocean he loves.”

Two weeks later, Nonaska was reported as having had all his staples removed, doing “one-legged exercises,” and “making great progress in his recovery.”

Since being created, the GoFundMe has raised over $107,000 — surpassing its initial goal of $100,000.

In an interview with KITV published on Monday, Jan. 6, Nonaka said he is “so happy” to say that he has been surfing 10 times during his ongoing recovery process.

“Water is not scared, just make me happy,” Nonaka said. “But sometimes I little bit scared of the shark because sometimes a big fish jumps… but I still respect them.”

He returned to the water on Dec. 21, he told KITV, adding that he now surfs lying down and sometimes on his knees.

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As for when he is going to be getting a prosthetic leg — something that was mentioned in the last update on the GoFundMe — Nonaska told KITV that he and his wife are headed to O’ahu to look for a one this week.

“So many people supported me and helped me,” Nonaska told KITV. “I so happy, I just appreciate them.”