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Bodysurfer injured at the Wedge
August 26th, 2009, 5:25 pm · 12 Comments · posted by Laylan Connelly, staff writer
A bodysurfer was rescued from the Wedge in Newport Beach today, after suffering a neck injury that sent him to the hospital.
The spinal cord injury comes about a month after a man was killed taking on big waves at the famous bodysurfing spot just north of the Newport Harbor entrance.
While the waves were not as large as that day, a south swell sent waves up to 8 feet to the Wedge today.
“He was out riding waves, and ended up in trouble,” lifeguard Capt. Jim Turner said of today’s injury.
(Photo courtesy of Kevin “Mel” Thoman)
On duty lifeguards, citizens and two Huntington Beach city lifeguards rushed to pull the man, said to be in his 20s, out of the water. With the big waves, it was a struggle to get him from the water. The rescue happened about 2:30 p.m.
Paramedics transported the man to the hospital. It is unknown how severe his injuries are, but Turner said he was conscious when he was on the sand.
“Until we have X-rays and the swelling goes down, you can’t tell for sure,” Turner said. “I’ve had patients we’ve thought were going to be in trouble, but ended up fine.”
Turner said spinal cord injuries can happen at any time at the beach, and people need to remember to avoid diving into the water head first, and to have arms stretched out if they are bodysurfing.
“You’d much rather hurt a shoulder, than have a neck injury,” he said. “You have to protect yourself.”
UPDATE:
Wedge bodysurfer Kevin “Mel” Thoman said the surfer, identified as 22-year-old Robert Khoury, is a pro tennis player and regular at the Wedge.
“He took off and rode the wave very well, but something must have happened after it tubed over him,” he wrote in an e-mail. “As you know, if it’s hollow, we don’t pull out, we just keep going into the tube.”
Thoman said Khoury is being treated at Hoag Hospital, and will likely have surgery Thursday.
12 Comments
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To many people get hurt at the Wedge.
It just isn’t worth it
I THINK YOU MEAN HE WAS CONSCIOUS, NOT CONSCIENCE, LAYLAN. CAN YOU HOOKE ME UP WITH A SCHOLARSHIP? GLAD HE’S OKAY AT LEAST HE ALIVE THAT OTHER HOMMIE WASNT AS LUCKY EH.
Thanks so much everyone for pointing out my error! My apologies
The word you need is “conscious”, not “conscience”.
“Turner said he was conscience when he was on the sand. ”
Well thank God the accident didn’t make him evil.
I do hope the man is okay though. The ocean must be respected.
He did not go over the falls, he rode the wave very well, just a freak accident.
Hopefully, his youthful exuberance and irrational sense of indestructability won’t cost him his tennis career or leave him permanently disabled. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Mr. Khoury.
I”m from Oahu, Sandy Beach & Makapuu cliffs. Here the waves are similar to the Wedge. But we have Coral, Lava Rocks, Tiger Sharks, Rip currents & surf boards to deal with. Every year we have “deaths” and 100s of “wannaBs” get hurt. It’s normal for shorts & fins to get ripped off your body. I have experienced both and I “was” a body surfer competitor in my younger days. When you have a lot to loose, it’s not worth it. I stick to boogie boarding with skegs. It’s the best of both worlds. No hard bottom and no hard boards.
Retarded reply that isn’t relevant, stroke your geek ego elsewhere. Furthermore, I’m sure the sandy’s/panic crew would say the same thing.
Oh yeah, Sandy Beach. I wrenched my back pretty good on a 2ft wave. Sandy’s is deceptively dangerous. Its like a cereal bowl.
I was just with Robert a month ago at wedge and he was charging during the late July swell….I can’t fathom this has happened to such an experienced wave rider and more importantly a great person. My thoughts and prayers are with you young man…
i agree wif jeff. good kid n has a lot going for him. freak accident. hope n pray for the best n hopefully hes back at it at no time.