Family remembers Washington man killed by shark in Hawaii

STEVENSON, Wash. (KPTV) -- A Stevenson man's vacation ended in tragedy after he was attacked and killed by a shark in Hawaii.



Patrick Briney, 57, was fishing in a kayak about a half mile off the southwest coast of Maui on Monday. His fishing partner said Briney was dangling his foot off the side when a shark came up to the boat and attacked, biting off his foot.

Witnesses said a friend fishing in another kayak about 500 yards away paddled over to try and save him, by applying a tourniquet to the wounded leg and flagging down a nearby charter tour boat.

Investigators said Briney died on the way to the hospital.

"It's not an easy time," Briney's brother, Bill, told FOX 12 in Portland Tuesday.

Briney said his brother was an adventure-seeker who had been traveling to Hawaii for 15 years. Patrick Briney was a retired experimental preflight mechanic with Boeing.

Bill Briney said while it's an incredibly difficult time for the family, he knows his brother was doing what he loved.

"He didn't want to die in his bed," he said. "He'd rather be out living life to the fullest."

Patrick Briney's neighbors in Stevenson said he recently moved to the area and enjoyed windsurfing in the Gorge.

"He just didn't let life slow him down," said Rikki Chamberlin.

In Maui, officials warned people to stay out of the water in the area after the attack. They said there have been eight shark attacks in Maui this year and 13 statewide.

Over the past 20 years, Hawaii has only averaged about four shark attacks per year.

The deadly attack Monday happened at a popular place for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Patrick Briney's family said they will remember the good times with the youngest of three brothers.

"We'll talk about the adventures that we had together," Bill Briney said.