Kauaʻi lifeguard Chance Swanson is recovering at The Queen’s Medical Center after being bitten by a shark while surfing at Hanalei Bay on Nov. 5. The attack severed a major artery in his leg, and trauma surgeons say the quick tourniquet applied by fellow lifeguards was critical to saving his life.
Swanson was first treated at Wilcox Medical Center before being flown to Queen’s, Hawaiʻi’s only Level I Trauma Center, where a multidisciplinary team performed complex reconstructive surgeries to repair damaged blood vessels, muscle, and tissue.
“Despite significant blood loss and a long transport, he did remarkably well,” said Dylan Davey, M.D., Queen’s ICU and Trauma Surgeon.
“He’s young, healthy. He has the best attitude, so he has the best recovery potential and the best rehabilitation potential,” said Peter Deptula, M.D., Queen’s Plastic Surgeon.
Swanson faces a long recovery but says he is grateful to his rescuers, care team, and the community for their support.
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