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.
The family of the body surfer who lost his life trying to tackle the giant surf last week issued a statement to those who tried to save 50-year old Monte Valentin’s life.
