Surfing is an exciting sport, but it is not without its dangers. Usually, when accidents do happen in surfing, it’s either something related to the mighty sea or to the dangerous animals residing underneath its vast surface. While it’s rare to hear surfers dying of causes not related to the sea or its ruthless wonders, it’s not completely unheard of.
Recently, an incident took place in Santa Barbara county, and the bizarre incident raised several eyebrows. Unfortunately, a surfer met their maker while surfing, in a manner such that no surfer would want to go that way.
Surfing turns fatal due to alleged cardiac arrest
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According to EDHAT, on Monday afternoon, a report was floated that a surfer was in distress at Goleta Beach in Santa Barbara County. After receiving the call, the firefighters responded to the same to aid the surfer in distress. The call came from areas in between the University of California, Santa Barbara campus point, and Goleta Beach.
Surfer Dead of "CARDIAC ARREST" in Santa Barbara County…
Despite the surfer being pulled from the water by other surfers, who reportedly performed CPR until first responders arrived, fire officials say the surfer was pronounced "dead at the scene"…
– ksby
— Dr. James E. Olsson (@DrJamesOlsson) March 14, 2023
The crew arrived on the scene at around 3:30 p.m. Before the firefighter crew arrived at the scene, bystanders who had seen the surfer drowning pulled him out of the water. After rescuing him from the water, they found him unconscious and started performing CPR.
Read more: After 145 People Drowned Last Summer, Surfing Lifesavers Don’t Want a Repeat in 2023
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However, the unconscious man did not respond to the CPR. Captain Scott Safechuck said, “Despite resuscitative efforts by the surfers and SBC Fire medics, the patient was pronounced deceased.” It appeared as if the surfer had suffered a cardiac arrest while surfing.
However, the official cause of death is still unknown. It is hard to say whether the surfer died because of drowning or because of cardiac arrest only. However, the surfer was announced dead on the scene after resuscitation was unsuccessful. The identity of the man has also not been released by the authorities.
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While cardiac arrest is something that requires long-term precaution, it is still advisable to not indulge in activities like surfing, which put a huge strain on one’s heart. Especially, if one knows their heart might not be strong enough to take it.