Maybe he had some sense knocked into him?

Comment #14

Think — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:10:49 GMT

They don't read either. We have beaches around here with signs warning of undertows and rip currents and don't swim yadda yadda....but yet again someone either ignored them or didn't read them and drowned this month. They found his body several days later about 5 miles away. It takes the USCG Helicopter 5 hours to get here from its base but the water is so cold that when they get here they are looking for the body/ies. Another place around here that people don't read t... [ More ]

Comment #13

LottoVantage — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:26:47 GMT

I learned a lesson that day that will remain with me until the end,

Comment #12

jarasan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:17:41 GMT

I say a "Double Darwin" shaken, not stirred.

Comment #11

justxploring — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:40:36 GMT

@Four4me. Okay - point taken. I just hope the people who choose to live on the wild side don't expect their insurance companies or employers to pay their bills when something goes wrong. I think it's really insane, but you're right about people who take big risks. However, I really believe this young man deserves a Darwin Award.

Comment #10

justxploring — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:40:30 GMT

Comment #9

emilyg — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:07:36 GMT

One can hope he'll mature.

Comment #8

four4me — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:24:29 GMT

I heard the wind surfer was an instructor on the news last night. Some people go to great length to get their adrenalin rush. I have hung off of scaffolds on some pretty tall buildings. People said we were nuts. I said i have a cable and two ropes if i fall my safety harness will stop me. You ride an elevator if it falls try and stop that. So who crazier the guy that rides a scaffold on the outside of a building or the person who gets in a elevator without anyway of stooping it if it shoul... [ More ]

Comment #7

justxploring — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:21:36 GMT

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9436627&ch=4226713&src=news http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9436627&ch=4226713&src=news<br

Comment #6

justxploring — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:36:58 GMT

Since I live in FL I've seen this story many times and not once has anyone mentioned he taught the sport. He did say in an interview at the hospital that he was about to take off his equipment, but I agree with Rick. It wasn't a hurricane, but the winds were almost at hurricane force, often gusting to 70mph. (just shy of a cat 1) He obviously thought it would be fun to challenge Mother Nature. Here is another link that is from the Miami Herald. Fort Lauderdale is just north of Miami. I ca... [ More ]

Comment #5

four4me — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:35:27 GMT

I've watched guys here in ocean city Maryland they can ride a strong gust of wind for a long way. This guy got cought in a strong gust of win not a full blown hurricane. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbsurfer0820sbaug20,0,1848017.story

Comment #4

time*treat — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:20:04 GMT

I recently read about a young woman killed while walking on the beach in FL when a wave "pulled her into the water" (the paper's words). Why is someone at the beach ... during a tropical storm?

Comment #3

Rick G — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:26:24 GMT

I'm sorry but if you have a kite on your back in a hurricane there is something deeply wrong with you.

Comment #2

four4me — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:29:20 GMT

The guy was a surf kite instructor he was about to take off his equipment when the gust of wind grabbed him and hurled him through the air.

Comment #1

justxploring — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:55:50 GMT

Another pet peeve here. 911 is not for reporting a power outage. I mean, when did the police start working for the electric company? Only if someone is injured, sick or disabled and needs emergency assistance should you call 911 during a power outage. Otherwise, that's just plain stupid! I don't even call FPL. I mean, if my lights go off and I see nobody else in my area has power, then a phone call isn't going to do any good, is it? I suppose if I lived in a rural area where my clos... [ More ]

Original Blog Entry: Maybe he had some sense knocked into him?

justxploring — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:54:18 GMT

There are several articles videos on the web about the kite surfer in Florida who was severely injured after a wind gust slammed his body into a concrete building. I saw it last week on my local news. Ouch!

http://www.wkrg.com/hurricane/article/caught_on_tape_wind_blows_kite_surfer_into_building/17014/

When interviewed, his mother was crying and kept saying He's in shock (when he said he'd do it again) because he was badly bruised and suffering from internal injuries.

I guess the reporters are a lot kinder than I am. Nobody asked Do you realize you raised an idiot?

Here's a YouTube video showing how the gust of wind suddenly picked him up into the air.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xYuTdPviA3Q feature=user

Of course I feel sorry for this 26 year old, but the reason for my rant is that we see this disregard for storm warnings all the time. In 2005 there was an emergency evacuation along the coastal areas when Wilma was on her way to Southwest Florida. So what did some people do? They drove to the beach or the Naples Pier to have fun. The only people who were killed in Punta Gorda in 2004 when Charley, a Category 4 hurricane, devastated the area, were 2 elderly people who refused to leave their mobile home although the park was evacuated.

By the way, I'm not only talking about Florida. People just don't listen.

... [ More ]