Jorge Alvarado was injured while surfing Daytona Beach Friday morning. Photo: Justin Gore // GoFundMe
A Florida surfer is on life support after suffering a serious injury and then becoming tangled under the Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach.
As the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports, the incident occurred around 9 a.m. Friday. According to Tamra Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, it is believed that Jorge Alvarado, 49, struck a sandbar and then became tangled with a piling under the pier. Malphurs wrote that a witness saw him “strike a piling with his head before going under in an unguarded area.” She went on to explain that it “sounds like the lateral current pushed him into the pier after he hit his head.”
Surfers quickly came to Alvarado’s rescue, but it took several minutes to free him. Life-saving measures were then performed and Alvarado was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was put on life support.
A GoFundMe has been started to raise funds for Alvarado’s recovery. As of writing, the fundraiser has raised $5,565 of its $25,000 goal. “Jorge is loved by so many people and we want to make sure as a community that we take care of him and his family during this difficult time,” reads the description. “If you can donate, anything would be greatly appreciated. If you can’t donate, please continue to pray for Jorge and his family.”
