Kiteboarder critically injured after slamming into St. Pete Pier
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A kiteboarder was hospitalized Friday morning after crashing into the side of the St. Pete Pier, according to St. Pete Fire Rescue.
Captain Garth Swingle, a spokesperson for St. Pete Fire Rescue, said crews responded around 11:15 a.m. for reports of an injured kiteboarder. When units arrived, they found a 38-year-old man wounded on the Pier.
Paramedics stabilized and treated the kiteboarder. They then transported him in critical, but stable condition to Orlando Health Bayfront, according to Swingle.
Marilyn LeFebvre said she was inside Doc Ford’s restaurant on the pier recording video when she saw the incident happen.
READ: St. Petersburg leaders approve $8M grant to ease Shore Acres flooding
"We just sat down at the bar and looked out and saw two guys out windsurfing, and I thought, ‘Cool, I'm going to take a video,’" she said. "They were jumping. They went way out of the water and stuff. And then I shut my video off. And then I had noticed the first guy went over the pier, and then I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. The second guy's probably to go to,’ so I turned my video back on and I got him. He was just it seemed like he kind of picked up a little extra speed right at the very end, or else he just got too close to the pier," LeFebvre said.
A kiteboarder near the St. Pete Pier.
"We all kind of went over to the window. I was like, Oh, my gosh, what happened,’" she said. "So sad. All of our hearts go out to the guy and hopefully, he's going to be ok," LeFebvre said.
LeFebvre said good Samaritans on the Pier told her they heard a boom, looked over the railing, and saw the man in the water. Then, with the help of a few other people, they pulled the man out of the water by his kite strings and his harness.
LOOK INSIDE: St. Pete Snell Isle mansion built in 1928 listed for $11.25 million
"They were trying to pull him. It's super, super, heavy for hard for them to do it. So, they didn't think they were able to do it by themselves, and then, luckily, some people came, other bystanders, I think from the restaurant. They said they came and all grabbed onto the cords and were able to pull him, pull him up," she said.
A friend of the victim posted to social media, saying the man's name is Alex Bloechinger. He said Alex is a professional kiteboarder and was trying to jump the pier.
Courtesy: Matt Sexton
Swingle said SPFR urges water sports enthusiasts to take caution when participating in a water sport during extreme weather.
"We just want to make sure the message gets out to anybody that's out in the water during any extreme weather is to just don't take unnecessary risks," Swingle said. "Make sure somebody knows that you're out," he said.
According to Fox 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg, wind gusts were around 36 miles per hour at the time of the incident.
SIGN UP: Click here to sign up for the FOX 13 daily newsletter