Charlie Verco, a volunteer lifeguard who recently assisted in the rescue of a woman from a shark attack, has won the 27th Moloka'i 2 O'ahu Paddleboard World Championships in Hawaii. Verco, 25, achieved this victory on Sunday, completing the 52-kilometer course from Moloka'i to O'ahu in four hours, 18 minutes, and three seconds, setting a new world record for the event.
This marks Verco's fourth win in the prestigious open-ocean endurance challenge, which is known for its unpredictable currents and marine life, including sharks. "I'm so stoked, it's so incredible. I've never felt so good in body and mind after the race and it's extra special that I was able to set a record at the same time," Verco told the ABC.
Just weeks prior to his championship win, Verco was training at Sydney's Coogee Beach when he spotted Leah Stewart, 34, in distress approximately 100 meters from his paddleboard. Stewart was reportedly being mauled by a great white shark. Verco paddled towards the shark, intending to scare it away, but realized the danger when he saw the size of the marine animal. He recounted on the Straight Talk podcast that his initial thought was his board might deter the shark, but his attitude shifted upon witnessing the shark's size.
"It felt like I was looking up at the animal whilst being on top of a board and just went, 'This thing is not going to be scared of me'," Verco said. He observed the shark moving with what he described as cautious movements, initially believing it might leave the swimmers alone after realizing they were not seals or its typical prey. However, the situation escalated, with the water becoming bloody as Stewart was bitten and pulled under.
Suddenly, Stewart resurfaced, and Verco paddled closer. She was able to respond to his instructions and request help. Verco pulled her onto his paddleboard and made his way to shore. He attempted to comfort her during the journey, reassuring her they were close to land. Lifeguards on the shore initiated CPR and applied tourniquets before Stewart regained consciousness. She received multiple blood transfusions on the beach and was airlifted to St. Vincent's Hospital. Stewart spent over a week on life support, underwent multiple surgeries, and had her arm amputated. A fundraiser for her and her family has raised over $550,000.
Verco stated that the shark attack served as a powerful reminder of the need to respect the ocean. "It has definitely helped remind me that the ocean is something you have to respect. I'm hoping Leah is doing alright and I feel incredibly grateful that I get to have an experience like this in the ocean."