RI Native Loses Leg in Shark Attack

A Rhode Island native with ties to Newport is recovering after a shark attacked him while surfing off the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Colin Cook, a former Tiverton resident a 2013 graduate of IYRS School of Technology and Trades, lost most of his leg and part of his hand after he was attacked by the shark, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Cook reportedly punched the shark during the attack and was able to fend it off before being helped out of the water by his friend, John Carper.

Cook moved to Hawaii after graduation to work for JC Surfboards as an intern.

The incident happened on Friday morning.

Honolulu EMS spokeswoman Shayne Enright said in a release that the attack happened near the “Leftovers” surfing spot, which is close to the well-known Banzai Pipeline area.

Authorities did not identify the species of shark that attacked Cook.

A witness told Hawaii News Now that Cook was sitting on his surfboard with his legs in the water when the attacked happened.

Once he was helped out of the water, witnesses used a surfboard leash as a tourniqet.

John Carper of JC Surfboards said that Cook was in good spirits before he was transported from the scene and he was lucky to be in an area with other surfers who helped him after the attack.

There was a real capable group of surfers that came in,” he said. “Without them Colin wouldn’t have made it. There’s no question he wouldn’t have made it.”