A LIFEGUARD was left fighting for his life after being savagely mauled by a shark at a popular beach.
Chance Swanson, 33, was spotted unconscious in the water by terrified beachgoers who said he was surrounded by a pool of blood.
Chance was hauled out of the water and found to have severe bite wounds on his left leg.
He was out surfing with his friends in an area called the “Middles” near to Kauai on his day off from work when the tiger shark attack unfolded.
Chance stayed out on the water as his friends went back to shore before he was pulled under.
Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau Chief Kalani Vierra told WBTW that lifeguards noticed a pool of blood in the water.
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Vierra said: “The lifeguards looked with the binoculars and noticed that Chance was floating on his back with a big red stain around him.
“They went out immediately, and obviously they noticed that he was attacked by shark, and they put on a tourniquet right away.”
First responders treated him on the beach as he was “going in and out of consciousness”.
Chance was rushed to hospital after losing a considerable amount of blood and immediately placed on breathing tubes.
Doctors said he had suffered severed nerves in his left leg and a fractured tibia.
His worried mum Rose Keaweamahi-Hoovler told Hawaii News Now: “The doctors are promising a good outcome, but only time could tell.
“It’s like the worst news a mother can receive that your son was bitten by a shark and it wasn’t good.
“Just chills. I started panicking and just went straight to Wilcox Hospital.”
He is expected to need at least three more surgeries on his leg until he is released.
Rose has set up a GoFundMe to cover the costs of Chance’s health bills.
It has already raised over $150,000 from over 1,000 donations – including from UFC boss Dana White.
Rose said in the post: “Chance is a well-respected lifeguard and surfer, and one of the humblest people you will ever meet.
“He embodies the true spirit of Aloha, and is a shining star, always happy and smiling.”
Officials have now confirmed that there were reports of a shark sighting in the water where Chance was attacked the day earlier.
They said they had asked for warning signs to be posted around Hanalei Bay.
