A 21-year-old tourist from Kansas has been charged after authorities say he stabbed a boat captain with a filet knife during a snorkeling excursion off the coast of Hawaii, leaving the longtime mariner seriously injured, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Avery Nissen, of Overland Park, Kansas, faces charges including second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault in connection with the attack on Stanley Lurbiecki, a 62-year-old catamaran captain with 35 years of experience.
The incident occurred during a three-hour snorkeling tour involving Nissen, his mother, and a sibling.
https://t.co/6pW6VWaJqn [2] Tourists on snorkeling tour in idyllic Hawaii waters shriek in horror as man STABS boat captain with fish fillet knife https://t.co/IErZgVmeEu [3] ~ Story Below #USA [4] #News [5]
— Follow @JodyField (@JodyField) April 20, 2026 [6]
According to reports, the group was approximately 30 minutes from returning to Honokōhau Harbor when the situation escalated.
Authorities allege Nissen retrieved a 10-inch filet knife from the vessel’s galley and attacked Lurbiecki, striking him in the head and stomach.
Lurbiecki described the confrontation from his hospital bed following the incident.
“I wrestled the knife out of him, and he continued to frantically stab away at me,” he said.
After the attack, Nissen reportedly entered the water after his mother attempted to restrain him. He was later brought back onto the vessel.
During that time, Lurbiecki’s other passenger assisted in trying to control the bleeding as the captain navigated the boat back to shore.
“I made it into the harbor and backed the boat up, and the paramedics met me there and further stopped the bleeding. I’d lost almost half my blood,” Lurbiecki said.
Law enforcement officials stated that the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Lurbiecki also said he has struggled to understand what occurred during the trip.
“This is like the most random, wildest, craziest thing you’ll ever hear of,” he said.
Kansas kid Avery Nissen (21) charged with attempted murder & 2 counts of assault after allegedly stabbing a 62yo snorkel boat captain unprovoked during a 3-hour tour on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Nissen grabbed a knife, stabbed Capt. Stan Lurbiecki and jumped overboard.
$1.57M bail. pic.twitter.com/x3Cc1Zh3sr [7]
— Dominic Box | J6 (@DomFreePress) April 19, 2026 [8]
Authorities took Nissen into custody and charged him with second-degree attempted murder, which carries a potential life sentence, as well as multiple assault charges.
He is being held on a $1.57 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The incident occurred during what had been a routine snorkeling outing before the situation turned violent. The vessel involved was described as a 55-foot-long catamaran.
Mark Towill, president of Hawaii Nautical and a colleague of the captain, provided an update on Lurbiecki’s condition.
“He’s stable” and “recovering,” Towill said. “He’s a real hero and fighter.”
Officials have not released additional details about the investigation, and authorities continue to examine the circumstances leading up to the attack.