A Port Orange man surfing near the Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach Shores was seriously injured when he struck his head and became tangled under the pier, according to Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue.
Jorge Alvarado, 49, was surfing just south of the Sunglow Pier about 9 a.m. Friday when the accident occurred, wrote Tamra Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue.
It is believed Alvarado struck a sandbar and then became tangled with a piling under the pier, according to Malphurs.
A witness saw him then “strike a piling with his head before going under in an unguarded area,” Malphurs wrote.
GoFundMe for injured Port Orange surfer
Other surfers came to Alvarado’s rescue but it took several minutes to free him, Malphurs wrote. Life-saving measures were started immediately and he was transported to a hospital.
She said beach safety responds to “few” incidents of “seasoned surfers” who are injured without involving a shark bite.
She wrote she was not sure how far Alvarado was from the pier but surfers are not supposed to be within 150 feet of piers.
“Sounds like the lateral current pushed him into the pier after he hit his head,” Malphurs wrote.
A GoFundMe for Alvarado has raised $4,495 of a $25,000 goal. The post, started by Justin Gore, said Alvarado is on life support.
“Jorge is loved by so many people and we want to makes sure as a community that we take care of him and his family during this difficult time,” the GoFundMe stated.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida surfer on life support after being tangled under Sun Glow Pier
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