OAHU, Hawaii — A professional Brazilian dancer and surfer is lucky to be alive after a massive 15-foot tiger shark sank its razor-sharp teeth into her leg in a sudden, powerful attack off the North Shore of Oahu on New Year’s Eve.
Marjorie Mariano, 54, was surfing near Laniakea Beach when the predator struck. What began as a routine session waiting for the next wave turned into a nightmare in an instant. Mariano felt something massive clamp down hard on her left leg. In a moment of raw terror, she looked down to see the shark’s jaws locked onto her.
“I was surfing in the area when I felt something big bite me really hard,” Mariano told Hawaii News. “I turned my body and looked at the shark’s face as it was biting my leg and I started to paddle like a maniac. I was like, I need to get out of here fast!”
In a desperate bid for survival, the terrified surfer wrenched her leg free from the shark’s grip and paddled frantically toward safety, screaming for help as blood poured from the gruesome wound. The injury was devastating: a deep laceration that began at the back of her knee and tore upward along her thigh.
Doctors initially feared they would have to amputate the badly mauled limb. However, surgeons managed to save her leg through two critical operations. The first procedure focused on thoroughly cleaning the wound to prevent life-threatening infection. A second surgery repaired damaged tendons and worked to restore movement in her foot.
Despite the severity of the attack, Mariano remained remarkably composed in its immediate aftermath. In a social media post on New Year’s Day, she reassured family, friends, and followers: “Happy 2018 everyone, I’m okay… I’m alive. I got bitten by a shark while I was surfing and waiting for a wave to come in.”
Experts believe the tiger shark likely mistook Mariano for a turtle or a seal in what is known as an “exploratory bite.” Andrew Rossiter, Director of the Waikiki Aquarium, noted that such incidents often occur during low-light conditions when sharks are most active.
“It’s very well known that the worst times to go out in the water are early morning and at dusk when the light is going down because those are the times that sharks are the most active,” Rossiter explained. “Given the time of day it occurred the woman was likely a victim of an exploratory bite where the shark mistook her for a turtle or a seal.”
The shark also left visible damage on Mariano’s surfboard, a chilling reminder of the encounter’s force.
Following the attack, lifeguards quickly posted warning signs in the area, advising beachgoers to enter the water at their own risk as sharks were known to be active.
As Mariano begins her long recovery, friends have launched a fundraising campaign to help cover her medical expenses and ongoing rehabilitation costs. The page, seeking to raise $50,000, collected more than $15,000 from 252 donors within just two days — a powerful show of support for the beloved surf instructor, dancer, and singer.
Marjorie Mariano’s story is one of resilience and survival against overwhelming odds. Though she faces a challenging road to full recovery, her determination and the quick actions of medical professionals have ensured she will continue to pursue her passions — albeit with a newfound respect for the power of the ocean.