ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A 38-year-old man was injured after a kiteboarding crash Friday morning at the St. Pete Pier.
In a video taken by a bystander and provided to the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, the kiteboarder, who is not from the area, is seen being slammed into the side of the pier after losing control because of the windy conditions.
The city's fire rescue crews responded to the incident around 11:15 a.m. to treat the man. He was transported to Orlando Health Bayfront in critical condition, according to a news release by the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.
Kiteboarders who spoke with 10 Tampa Bay say the man who crashed is an experienced kiteboarder and well-known within the tight-knit kiteboarding community. He was attempting to jump the pier along with other kiteboarders but at the last moment, instead of his kite taking him vertical, he launched forward into the pier. Several metal bars on the railing of the pier were significantly bent at the place of impact.
Editor's note: The video below has been edited to not show the moment of impact. People are heard reacting to the crash.
"Something happens for him to be hospitalized?" said kiteboarding instructor, Brandon Bowe. "Something drastic was out of his control, it wasn't a user error."
On Friday morning, there was heavy rain and a high risk for rip currents, which will continue through Saturday morning.
St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue couldn't say if the attempt to jump the pier was legal and St. Petersburg police said they didn't respond to the scene. City officials told 10 Tampa Bay late Friday it's too early to know if any potential regulation of kiteboarding will be considered.
"Do not take unnecessary risks, and please follow safety recommendations from weather experts," the release said.