A tragic incident unfolded yesterday at the renowned Whale Bay near Raglan, New Zealand, as a surfer lost his life while riding the area’s legendary pointbreak.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., local authorities were alerted to a potential medical emergency at the popular surf spot, where conditions were favorable for surfing with waves ranging from four to six feet. Lifeguards from the Raglan Surf Life Saving team quickly responded, deploying an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) to reach the unresponsive surfer.
“Two lifeguards responded by IRB following reports of a medical incident at Whale Bay. They collected the unresponsive individual and brought him to the surf club at Ngarunui Beach, where an ambulance was waiting,” a Surf Life Saving New Zealand spokesperson confirmed to the New Zealand Herald.
Despite the dedicated efforts of five lifeguards, who worked for over 20 minutes to resuscitate the surfer on the beach, all attempts were tragically unsuccessful. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s identity has not yet been disclosed, and the case has been referred to the local coroner for further investigation.
Whale Bay, famous for its scenic beauty and perfect pointbreak, is not typically associated with dangerous surf conditions, making the loss all the more heartbreaking for the local surf community. Authorities have not provided further details on the cause of the incident at this time.
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