Surf-skier Declared Dead

Stuart Burgess, NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty coxswain said: “On Tuesday, 02 March at 18h54 NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew were activated following reports of red distress flares being activated in the vicinity of Harbour Island.

“The NSRI Gordon’s Bay members were on base at the time preparing for a monthly crew meeting and immediately launched our rescue craft.

“On arrival on-scene a group of surf-skiers were found approximately ¾ nautical miles off-shore and it was established that one of the surf-skiers, a 49 year old local man, had sustained a suspected heart attack while taking part in a regular organised “downwind” paddle from Gordon’s Bay to the Strand in which 28 surf-skiers were taking part.

Sea conditions were gusting to 30 knot South Easterly winds and choppy seas.

“The surf-skier, who was being kept out of the water by three fellow paddlers who were using their surf-ski’s to keep the man’s body afloat, was immediately transferred on-board our rescue craft and he presented with no pulse and no breathing and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were immediately commenced by our NSRI paramedic while the rescue craft returned to our rescue base.

“Once ashore paramedics continued with CPR but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared dead.

“A brief search was then conducted for two men on a double surf-ski who had assisted in the rescue but they were found safe.

“While it is suspected that the man suffered a heart attack a post mortem will determine the exact cause of death.”