Surfer missing in Orange Beach (Posted on 6/24/12 at 3:06 pm)
Was walking on the beach near Turquoise Place in OB when about a dozen beach patrol came flying down the beach. Surfer went out about 2 hours ago and hasn't been seen since. Hundreds of people on the beach staring out into the water looking for some sign of the guy. Tough to see far with 6 to 8 foot waves breaking out at the breakline.
TemplarTheSaint LSU Fan The Vatican Member since Oct 2011 611 posts
re: Surfer missing in Orange Beach (Posted on 6/24/12 at 3:24 pm to Pectus)
With those currents right now, he could be 2/3 the way to Dauphin Island by now. People have no idea just how severe the rips can be in cross wind / high surf scenarios
Rekrul LSU Fan Baton Rouge Member since Feb 2007 1399 posts
re: Surfer missing in Orange Beach (Posted on 6/24/12 at 3:32 pm to fr33manator)
quote: I was there last weekend. The waves were killer.
Anyone know why this is? I know a few people that have been down there in the past few weeks and all have said that the water was unusually rough. I'll be there with my kids the week of the 4th and I'm just curious. I know there's a storm out there right now, but some people I know were there a month ago and said the same thing.
re: Surfer missing in Orange Beach (Posted on 6/24/12 at 3:36 pm to TemplarTheSaint)
It has now been 3 hours and no sign of the guy. Local news crew now at the Cotton Bayou beach access. I think we are looking at the first official death as a result of Tropical Storm Debby unfortunately.
I know people pass away every day but it's kinda surreal when it happens near you and happens so quickly. Dude was excited about catching a wave or two just 3 or 4 hours ago and now he's likely dead.
fr33manator LSU Fan Baton Rouge Member since Oct 2010 37573 posts
re: Surfer missing in Orange Beach (Posted on 6/24/12 at 3:39 pm to Govt Tide)
Last week one took me and threw me end over end three times and dashed me against the bottom so violently it scraped the frick out of my hand hard enough to make me bleed.
I went back to the beach to drink beer and build a sand castle
St Augustine New Orleans Saints Fan The Pauper of the Surf Member since Mar 2006 36510 posts Online
re: Surfer missing in Orange Beach (Posted on 6/24/12 at 4:08 pm to TemplarTheSaint)
quote: With those currents right now, he could be 2/3 the way to Dauphin Island by now. People have no idea just how severe the rips can be in cross wind / high surf scenarios
If he is experienced rips are no problem at all. In fact we welcome them because they make it significantly easier to get outside. Likely he had no idea what the hell he was doing and had poor ability to duck dive/stay on his board or got smacked in the head by his board and knocked out. It sucks but it's one of the risks of heading out when the swells get bigger. Anybody who surfs often has gone over the falls, been thrown against the bottom, wrapped in their leash, taken quite a few on the chin from breaking waves. Hope we have a happy ending here.
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