Tiger shark attack in Hawaii: "I have God in my life, and I have a lot of faith, at no time did I think I was going to die"

"I started praying to God and I said, 'God, let that shark get off my leg.' I was going back and forth and back and forth with it, and it didn't let go. So , I guess God wanted me to fight."
Veteran surfer Mike Moritz survived a nearly 3-foot tiger shark attack in Hawaii off Honolulu on April 9. He wanted to go surfing early before heading to Easter worship with his wife.
speaking in the American media, Mike Moritz explained how his faith helped him stay calm underwater. "In this critical moment, I went to God", explains the surfer.
"I have God in my life, and I have a lot of faith and trust and at no time was I afraid. At no time did I think I was going to die."
When the tiger shark started biting him, Mike immediately prayed.
"I started praying to God and I said, 'God, let that shark get off my leg.' I was going back and forth and back and forth with it, and it didn't let go. So , I guess God wanted me to fight."
Kamu Morita, his son, recounts the attack to Hawaii News Now.
"It was a struggle according to him, he took a few hits, but the shark just wouldn't let go. Somehow, after being shaken up, he kind of came face to face. face to face with (the shark) with his foot still in his mouth and he was able to kind of squeeze it and grab the gills and the eyes and that's really how he ended up letting go."
Mike's screams during the attack alerted his friends who came to rescue him. "The water was red with my blood," he said. "I can't believe how brave my friends were." His friends were able to make him a tourniquet with their surfing equipment. According to the paramedics, without this tourniquet he would have died.
His family organized a kitty to help with medical care. On Go fund me, his family explains that "his morale is good and he has accepted his injury".
"He embraces the challenges he will face, and with God, family and friends by his side, he will stay positive and get through it."
MC