Kite surfer critically ill after wind drags him 100ft off beach into building
A kite surfer is fighting for his life in hospital after he was blown across a Dorset beach and into a building.
The man, thought to be in his 30s, had just come out of the water at Shore Road beach in Poole Harbour when a gust of wind caught his kite and dragged him 100ft to the promenade.
He hit a beach information sign before being lifted another 10ft, slamming into a building and dropping onto railings, according to the BBC.
Two lifeguards from the RNLI administered oxygen before the South Western Ambulance crew took over.
He was then airlifted by the Coastguard helicopter to Southampton General Hospital suffering with serious head injuries.
Richard Gower, chairman of the British Kitesurfing Association, told the Daily Mail: "It was not that windy yesterday but there were squalls.
"The kites are very powerful but there is an emergency system to de-power them. It seems this kite surfer couldn't activate his for some reason."
Mr Gower added that kite surfing accidents like this are "fairly rare", with most happening on land, rather than in the water.
Back in November 2010, a 28-year-old kite surfer died in Saint Jean de Luz, in south west France, after a strong wind dragged him across a beach at 100mph, hitting three rooftops, before plunging 50ft to his death.
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