Disclosures: Armando Alvarez, MD, MPH: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Objective: Tropical cyclones often produce ocean wave conditions that attract thrill-seeking surfers. The dangers of so-called “storm surfing” have not yet been described in the medical literature. This study aims to better identify the morbidity and mortality associated with this extreme sport.

Design: Retrospective review of cases of surfing-related casualties reported in the Tropical Cyclone reports of the National Hurricane Center and the annual hurricane season reviews published in the Monthly Weather Review journal from the American Meteorological Society. Media reports were used to identify additional cases and, when available, to provide supplemental demographic and geographical information.Setting : Regions within the Western Hemisphere impacted by Atlantic or Pacific tropical stormsParticipants : Surfers who were killed or seriously injured while surfing in conditions produced by hurricanes or tropical storms between the years 1995-2020

Interventions: None

Main Outcome Measures: Death or serious injury

Results: There have been 27 reported storm surfing fatalities during this time period. Among those for whom demographic data was available, all of the decedents were male and 3 were children under the age of 18. All but three of the deaths occurred among those surfing Atlantic storms. 6 deaths occurred while surf conditions were affected by tropical storms that did not reach hurricane status. One-third of the fatalities occurred off the coast of Florida. Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries caused or contributed to some deaths. Reported non-fatal injuries among storm surfers included neck injuries and lower limb fractures.Conclusions: Tropical storms and hurricanes produce dangerous surf conditions that have resulted in considerable mortality over the past 25 years. Non-fatal injuries are likely underreported to weather authorities and those in the media. Physiatrists caring for surfers should educate them regarding the heightened risk for serious injury or death when surfing conditions created by tropical cyclone activity.

Level of Evidence: Level IV

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/storm-surfing-related-injuries-and-death-a-retrospective-review-of-cases/