Much potential horror.
There are many ways to die whilst surfing. Shark attack, being on the wrong end of some surf rage, seal attack, bonking head off reef, bonking head off board, seal attack. The most embarrassing, though, almost just unfurled in New Smyrna, Florida late last week.
For it was there, in the shark bite capital of the world, that a plane pulling a banner crashed into the water.
Gary Lieberman was there on the shore witnessing, and shared, “I heard the sputtering and I looked and like I said, the plane was coming right at the beach. The pilot did an outstanding job putting the plane down in a safe area. No swimmers, and he got out!” I don’t think anybody really expected anything like this today.”
Albert Proctor, another beachgoer, added, “It was just unusual, you don’t expect to see something like that while you’re out here at the beach trying to enjoy the sun.”
Dennis Robinson also observed but, unlike Lieberman and Proctor, ran over to help, though the pilot was already out of the plane when he arrived. “I know everybody’s willing to help if they can,” he said. “When you see something like this happen, reach out and give a hand if you can.”
Miraculously no one was hurt, though back to embarrassment. Most of the banner planes around San Diego are pulling advertisements for Cheetah’s Gentlemen’s Club or High Noon vodka seltzer and imagine getting tangled in one of those then dragged to Davey Jones’ Locker. Much horror. I’d imagine the banner planes flying over New Smyrna are pulling even tawdrier business and imagine the eulogy.
“He died doing what he loved wrapped in a Bottom’s Up Club flag.“
The Bottom’s Up Club has a 1.3 star review on Yelp.