Kiteboarder badly hurt after high winds slam him into St. Pete Pier
A man kiteboarding near the St. Pete Pier was hospitalized Friday after he lost control and struck the side of the pier.
At about 11:15 a.m., St. Petersburg Fire Rescue responded to the pier, where they found an injured adult man, according to a news release from the agency.
Video captured by a bystander shows the man slamming into the pier and bouncing off its concrete side. An onlooker can be heard yelling, “Oh, my God.”
Paramedics stabilized and treated the kiteboarder before he was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. He was in critical but stable condition.
Video from another angle shows waves crashing against a nearby seawall and spilling onto land. Strong winds can be seen stirring up waters and blowing against the tops of palm trees.
Forecasters predicted a “marginal risk” of severe weather Friday that may include thunderstorms and tornadoes.
“St. Petersburg Fire Rescue urges water sports enthusiasts to take caution when participating in a water sport during extreme weather,” the department wrote in the release. “Do not take unnecessary risks, and please follow safety recommendations from weather experts.”
