A nasty curse strikes again.
Two years ago, or such, we all learned of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Surfer’s Myelopathy. The ultra-rare disease, a hyperextension of the T10 vertebrae, causes paralysis without even a bonk on the back, just regular ol’ paddling and popping. Reason 312 to quit surfing, immediately.
Last time, the nasty condition befell a handsome young Las Vegas man on vacation to Hawaii. The 18-year-old had gone surfing, a lifelong dream, but, “Within that first or second wave, I noticed my lower back was starting to feel tense. Soon as I touched the sand, my legs pretty much just gave out.”
Surfer’s Myelopathy.
Paralysis.
Now, it is being reported that an Atlanta man, in Honolulu for his honeymoon, suffered the same ugly fate. According to local media, Brendan Town, 32, was on the the island celebrating marriage to his wife Cho Park, by surfing. Afterward, it is said he had a “mild discomfort” in his back that quickly devolved to full paralysis.
He has been in the hospital for weeks, getting released yesterday. “My goal is to be able to withstand the 8-9 hour flight back home by the end of this week,” he wrote on a GoFundMe. “Once back home I will be starting inpatient physical therapy that will help expedite the process of my healing and being able to walk again.”
Walking is possible, again, with the surfers’ curse and hopefully Town will be able to overcome but man…
Does it make you think twice about paddling?
Or at least paddling in Hawaii?
Probably should, TBH.
what about all those maniacs who paddle (now foil) between islands?
This whole paralysissy shit makes me think how if you dont surf, dont start.
Damn, went down on a 15 foot bomb towing a huge beach break and fractured my t8-9-10 and couldn’t walk right for years. Makes me feel better that just paddling can cause it too, seems like I got off easy.
False news that’s paid for by the motorized surfboard industry in an effort to boost lagging end of summer sales to lazy, weak and/or nervous, potential new ‘surfers’…
You can’t blame big motosurf for these very real issues. They’re boards these excellent companies are putting out are lightyears ahead of what other makers are doing right now in terms of design and materials plus their no paddle tech is both safe and rewarding. I have at least two motosurf boards and have another one as a minimum on the way for Hawaiian waves, they’ll be very useful if I can ever travel there in the future.
In Australia
This cruel disease is also
Known as Shaggers Back
Fuck me dead for sure
I had better pull right back
My missus the minx