Hey guys and gals. Here is an update. The rider is going to be ok but has 2 broken legs, a concusion, lacerations, and some head trauma. He is in stable condition but in bad shape. Some of the facts are still unclear but here is what I have found out. He is from Vero Beach and was here with friends. They were out at the sandbar riding and decided to come in. Wind was 20+ and straight on shore. He was in the channel screaming for someone to land his kite but no one was there and his friends were pretty far behind. His kite came down and hit the rocks but just as someone was going to grab his kite, the rider pulled on the bar and the kite shot to neutral and lofted him 10-15 ft. on to the rocks. He was knocked out on contact and the drug into the water. A local kiter jumped in after him and was able to coax the kite to the jet ski docks where they popped the kite and pulled him to safety.
From what I know he seemed to be an inexperienced kiter with the wrong conditions for his ability. He also didn't know the layout of the launch as it was waist deep less than 50 ft. to his left and he stayed in the deep water. Whale Harbor is for experienced kiters only and he should not have been allowed to come in to the beach without knowing that someone was there to catch him or the layout of the launch. Ricki will post soon with more details.
Everybody please be safe and have fun!!!!!!!
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