“Bleeding Out on a Beach…”: Australian Surfer’s Tragic Accident Leaves Surfing World Shocked

The recent bizarre incidents that have surfaced in the surfing domain are utterly terrifying. Likewise, the latest case at Byron Bay’s Wategos beach in New South Wales, Australia, might run chills down the spine. A retired pro surfer, Matthew Cassidy, almost died after a rogue board slit his arm, leading to massive blood loss. An article by Daily Mail Online revealed that a female surfer’s longboard was cut loose after her leg rope snapped, hence, running into and severely injuring Cassidy. 

Cassidy instanced the situation as a caution for mandating leg rope usage by surfers to prevent any future misadventures. 

Surfer gravely injured by rogue surfboard

According to the Daily Mail publication, the 49-year-old would’ve bled to death if not for the bystanders, who he remarked were “some absolutely legendary humans.” The fin of the board in question cut through his biceps and arteries. The surfboard came loose after the female surfer fell out of it. Although, she claimed that she was protected by the leg rope until it broke. 

Cassidy asserted the risks of not wearing the ropes and putting other people’s lives in danger. “But there is no surfer I know who can go a whole surf without losing their board. It’s just a selfish act [to not wear a leg rope] in a place that’s that crowded,” he stressed. He admitted that he never wants to be held responsible for hurting anyone, particularly, a kid, for not wearing the leg rope. More so, the Byron Bay Council is thinking of fining surfers $1,100 and making it illegal to not wear the straps. 

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Mr. Cassidy got emotional and said, “Bleeding out on a beach while trying to catch a last glimpse of your wife’s face is not something I wish on anyone.” The athlete added that he saw a “big chunk of flesh flying through the air followed by a lot of blood.” Therefore, he managed to get to the shore with his wet suit pulled over his wound to stop the blood. After an ambulance and a subsequent helicopter ride, he reached a Gold Coast hospital. ‘Let’s all enter and exit the surf safely, we all love the same sport, let’s act like a community not individuals,” Cassidy advised. Another similar accident in the sport cost a young surfer his life. 

A shocking surfing tragedy

Earlier this year, a 21-year-old surfer, Evan McMillen, once paddled out for a solo session at the home break of Salt Creek, Dana Point, per Stab Magazine. Even though, he “wasn’t surfing the main peak”, he suddenly fell into the water and shockingly, didn’t float right back up to the surface. It alarmed the bystanders. Unfortunately, moments later, his body was found and “pulled out of the shortbreak.” 

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Despite performing CPR and other emergency procedures, Mcmillen did not survive. The world had lost a prospective young surfer due to an ill-fated incident. Moreover, McMillen’s cause of death remains hazy as it was “unclear whether he hit the bottom of his board” amid other probable mishaps.