Drone operator cited for interfering with rescue of shark-bite victim

A San Diego drone operator has been cited for interfering with the rescue of a shark bite victim last week. 

Authorities said David Steel, 57, was his flying his drone in an area reserved for a medical response helicopter after 13-year-old Keane Webre-Hayes was attacked. 

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said Steel’s drone forced a helicopter pilot to circle the landing area, which delayed picking up the teen.

Webre-Hayes suffered a life-threatening shark bite when he was attacked while lobster fishing in Encinitas on Saturday. 

David Steel, 57, was cited for interfering with the rescue of a shark bite victim last week while flying his drone in San Diego, California

Authorities said Steel was his flying his drone in an area reserved for a medical response helicopter after 13-year-old Keane Webre-Hayes (pictured) was attacked

Authorities said Steel was his flying his drone in an area reserved for a medical response helicopter after 13-year-old Keane Webre-Hayes (pictured) was attacked

An SDSO spokesperson said several deputies spotted Steel’s drone in the landing zone area during rescue efforts. 

‘The drone was a safety hazard, so the Fire Department Battalion Chief had to radio the helicopter to abort their landing,’ the spokesman told NBC San Diego. 

A deputy located Steel, who frequently posts about droning over the ocean on his social media, and immediately ordered him to land his Mavic drone.

He complied and was given a misdemeanor citation for flying a drone at the scene of an emergency operation, which is illegal in California.

Steel, a former lifeguard, told DailyMail.com that his helicopter was nowhere near the helicopter landing area when deputies saw his drone. 

He refused to comment further. 

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said Steel's drone forced a helicopter pilot to circle the landing area, which delayed picking up Webre-Hayes 

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said Steel’s drone forced a helicopter pilot to circle the landing area, which delayed picking up Webre-Hayes 

Steel, a former lifeguard, told DailyMail.com that his helicopter was nowhere near the helicopter landing area when deputies saw his drone

Steel, a former lifeguard, told DailyMail.com that his helicopter was nowhere near the helicopter landing area when deputies saw his drone

Congress is currently trying to pass new regulation that would give federal law enforcement the authority to destroy drones that pose security threats. 

The Oceanside Police Department in San Diego already has a device – known as the ‘DroneKiller’ – that can force a drone to return to its operator. 

But the department cannot use it until it has been approved by the government.

As for Webre-Hayes, his mother said the teen is alert and already talking about getting back into the ocean.  

‘He said, “Mom, the chances are so much more slim on the second bite,'” Ellie Hayes told reporters during a press conference.  

Webre-Hayes suffered a life-threatening shark bike when he was attacked while lobster fishing in Encinitas on Saturday 

Webre-Hayes suffered a life-threatening shark bike when he was attacked while lobster fishing in Encinitas on Saturday 

A San Diego deputy located Steel and immediately ordered him to land his Mavic drone (pictured in file photo)

A San Diego deputy located Steel and immediately ordered him to land his Mavic drone (pictured in file photo)

Hayes said she was standing on a cliff in the parking lot in Encinitas when she heard the commotion, though she didn’t see the shark. 

Her son and his friend were diving in about 9ft of water about 150 yards offshore when he was attacked.

Witnesses estimated the shark was about 11ft long, but the type remains unknown.

A trio of rescuers pulled the badly-bleeding boy to a kayak and applied pressure before he was airlifted to the hospital via helicopter.

‘We got very, very lucky, and we know it, and we are very thankful,’ Hayes said, her voice choking as she spoke of how much she loved her son.

Ellie Hayes, the teen's mother, said he is alert and already talking about returning to the ocean

Ellie Hayes' voice choked as she spoke of how much she loved her son

Ellie Hayes, the teen’s mother, said he is alert and already talking about returning to the ocean

Dr Tim Fairbanks, chief of pediatric surgery at Rady Children’s Hospital, said Webre-Hayes remained in serious condition from what he described as a very large and very deep bite that reached the chest wall. 

It tore his left upper back, shoulder, torso, face and ear but did not damage his vascular system.

‘Keane wants you to know he has all his limbs, and he’s going to be going home fully intact,’ Fairbanks said. 

‘We’re thrilled to be where we are right now. But we still need to get him across the finish line and get him all the way better.’

Webre-Hayes was with a friend and diving in about 9ft of water about 150 yards offshore when he was attacked

Webre-Hayes was with a friend and diving in about 9ft of water about 150 yards offshore when he was attacked

Hayes was reluctant to speak in detail about the incident but said her son was insistent about wanting to go lobster diving.

‘He had said, “Mom, I’m going to make you a lobster dinner tonight” so he owes me one,’ she said.

Hayes said the one word she would choose to describe her son is nice, but she also used brave, strong and athletic.

‘He’s a warrior,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know he was that good of a swimmer.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk