Nov 12, 2009 5:38 pm US/Eastern
Novice Surfer Dies In Rough Long Island Waters
MONTAUK, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Beaches on Long Island were closed after remnants of Tropical Storm Ida tore into the surf on Nov. 12, 2009.
CBS
Remnants of Tropical Storm Ida is already stirring up rough waters in the tri-state, making for tempting conditions for surfers, but a real danger lurks in the waves. On Thursday, a novice surfer who tried to take advantage of the storm didn't make it back to the shore alive.
As high tide begins to tear away at the coast and ruin beaches, danger in the surf is felt from Montauk to the Rockaways.
"It's crazy you know. It's too cold, and it's windy and dangerous," said Rockaway beachgoer Claudia Rusch.
The Rusch family took pictures of the spot off Beach 96th Street, where, despite warnings of danger, inexperienced 36-year-old surfer lured by the sea took a risk that would cost him his life today in the Rockaways.
Friends say the surfer, whose identity was not yet released, was alone when the tether on his board became entangled in his suit as heavy surf pounded him towards the rocky jetty. Two city emergency responders from the fire department risked their lives in 50 degree waves, trying to rescue and to revive the struggling surfer, but he had reportedly gone into cardiac arrest before being rushed to Peninsula Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"They tried to revive him, but he was learning. It wasn't the right day to practice for him," said surfer Douglas Finnen.
"It's tough. You've got to be careful out there. I've seen some surfers get pretty close to jetty over there, you try to study the conditions and not get banged around," said surfer Joe Baudille.
In Woodmere, lights came down on Peninsula Boulevard. Workers blamed volatile weather moving in from the south shore. Long Island's coastline beacons signaled trouble ahead, with waves that could reach 18 feet over the next day or so and wind gusts speeding to 45 knots. Popular summer beaches like Robert Moses state park are predicted to seriously suffer.
"The main concern at this point is that next summer we may not have any beaches on the east end of Robert Moses to actually authorize people to go onto because there's not gonna be any sand. We're gonna have the high tide, the entire beachfront underwater," said New York State Parks spokesman George Gorman.
Many beaches are being closed off for the duration of the storm. Officials ask you stay off the dunes and out of the water due to strong current and high winds.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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