http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6144414
Kitesurfer crashes into cliff, dies at Panther Beach
By Jennifer Squires
MediaNews
Article Launched: 06/14/2007 08:16:16 PM PDT
NORTH COAST - A kitesurfer practicing on the beach died Thursday afternoon when the wind dragged him across the sand into the side of a cliff at Panther Beach.
The 18-year-old man was out with a group of friends when the accident happened around 3:40 p.m., according to officials.
"He hit the rocks and he fell back on his head," California Fire Capt. Deborah Daly said.
The kitesurfer was unconscious and not breathing when emergency crews arrived. A bystander began performing CPR, according to State Parks supervising ranger Bill Wolcott, but the man was declared dead at the beach.
"He was not in the water. He was on the beach practicing with his kitesurfing equipment," Wolcott said.
The Coroner's Office has not released the man's identity, pending notification of his family.
State Parks lifeguards have rescued several people from Santa Cruz County waters this week.
Two women swimming at Manresa State Beach in South County ran into trouble on Tuesday evening and one had to be helped in by an Aptos/La Selva firefighter. On Monday, a man walking on the rocks at Panther beach was swept into the ocean and had to be rescued.
"It's been a busy week - hot weather and a lot of people are out," Wolcott said.