The fifth was the uncertainty of the encounter.
Morita could not know how long the shark would hold him, whether it would release him, or whether he would have enough strength to escape.
His decision to wrap his body around the animal became the most unusual element of the struggle.
But the encounter should not be described as a contest that Morita won by overpowering the shark.
He was trying to survive.
The animal eventually released him.
The precise reason remains uncertain.
It is also important not to assign an unsupported motive to the shark.
The available account establishes that the animal bit Morita and dragged him underwater.
It does not establish why the shark approached him or whether it had deliberately selected him as prey.
Sharks are wild predators whose behavior is influenced by environmental and sensory factors.
A serious bite does not automatically reveal the animal's intention.
For Morita, however, understanding the shark's motivation was not his immediate concern.
He was injured, trapped, and running out of options.
His priority was escaping its jaws.
The incident is memorable because of his extraordinary response, but it is also a reminder of the importance of the rescue that followed.
The nearby surfers helped him reach shore.
Medical personnel then treated his injuries.
Morita survived because the sequence ended with his release, assistance from others, and access to medical care.
Chapter 10: The Surfer Who Escaped the Shark's Jaws
On April 9, 2023, Mike Morita entered the ocean near Kewalo Basin expecting another morning of surfing.
He was 58 years old and had spent decades enjoying the waters around Hawaii.
The ocean was familiar to him.
But familiarity did not protect him from the unexpected.
While lying on his surfboard, Morita was suddenly bitten on the leg by a shark.
Witnesses described the animal as a tiger shark approximately seven feet long.
The shark held his right leg and began pulling him underwater.
Morita fought back.
He punched the animal, trying to make it release him.
But the shark continued holding his leg.
It dragged him beneath the surface twice.
Each descent increased the danger.
Morita needed air.
He was losing energy.
And the shark's jaws were still locked around his leg.
The attack placed him in a situation where ordinary escape movements were no longer effective.
He could not simply paddle away.
He could not swim freely while the animal held him.