Devan Kennedy was found face down in the channel at Punta Miramar, Nicaragua on Thursday white and blue, unconscious, and unresponsive. Photo: Gregory Chrisman
“Had a shitty situation in front of Casa Sirena Surf Lodge today,” starts Gregory Chrisman. In a detailed Facebook post, the owner/operator of the lodge, located on the beach of Punta Miramar, Nicaragua, explains the scene in which a Florida man, named Devan Kennedy, was found in front of the lodge, in the surf, unresponsive.
“About 9am, Alex, the Surf Tours Nicaragua manager found him face down in the channel and did his best to keep Devon’s (sic) head up while getting him back to the beach,” said Chrisman.
Kennedy was found blue, white, and foaming, according to Chrisman’s post. Overhead waves and a strong current made for a difficult rescue.
Within minutes of getting Kennedy to the beach, he was transported to the closest hospital, but unfortunately, it was too late.
Chrisman was unaware what the initial cause of Kennedy’s accident was, or for how long he had been lying in the water face down. There were no obvious injuries, he said.
“I do know that we all need to be trained (re-trained), we could use some proper lifesaving equipment like a board, torpedo, air bag, automatic defibrillator, etc.,” explained Chrisman. “He might have stood a better chance if we had some better tools. I do know that we did our best and I hope that if I’m ever in trouble I have someone like the people today to help.”
Kennedy had been volunteering with Surf Tours Nicaragua, teaching pre-surf and post-surf movement programs, according to the website of his company, EndlessTraining.
Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.
