Yesterday was a very exciting day for young Professional surfer Tanner Hendricksen. The waves were pumping, the session was amping and he broke two of his favorite polyester surfboards. Then.. things really took an unexpected turn when Tanner Hendricksen and Kai Barger heard a cry for help....
SHARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tanner and Barger heard a nearby bodyboarders scream but couldn't believe that there was a shark nearby. He watched as the two bodyboarders paddled slowly back toward him and his friends.
"I asked them if they had seen a shark and he said that he had been bitten by one," Barger said. "He lifted his leg and his fin was gone and all of the skin on his shin was off. It was really gnarly."
Barger and fellow professional surfer Tanner Hendrickson towed the two boys back to shore against the current.
"We just told him that he was O.K., that he still had a foot, and that he was going to survive this," Barger said. "We just did whatever we could to keep him calm."
On the beach, Barger and Hendrickson used their leashes as tourniquets for the wound while they waited for emergency medical services to arrive.
WOW!! Nice job Kai and Tanner!!!!! This sets a fine example for all watermen that we need to look out for one another and come to the rescue if conditions warrant swift action.
Outstanding!!!
Tanner hails from the outer island of Maui and along with the other Maui groms coming up through the Hawaiian ranks, he has a well rounded surfing arsenal. He is a natural footer with a quick crisp style. He can be found ripping Honolua on the best days and tapping into his local spots when the conditions are right. He is coming up hard and just pulled a great clothing sponsor, FOX. Tanner prefers the X-16 short boards and often rides X-Ups and Semi- Guns.
Tanner loves his Xanadu Shapes and has been using KEAHANA for two years now during Nationals and other high profile contests. Interesting sidebar-Tanner has never broken a KEAHANA EPS Concept Surfboard and is ordering a fresh contest quiver right now.
http://xanadusurfdesigns.com/
