NEW SMYRNA BEACH,None — Students and staff at New Smyrna Beach High School will return to class with heavy hearts on Monday after a math teacher died surfing in the rough waters caused by Hurricane Irene.
Officials said 55-year-old Fredrick Fernandez was knocked off his surfboard Saturday morning, and suffered a massive head trauma.
Beach Patrol tried to resuscitate him and medics transported him to Bert Fish Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
He had a huge laceration on his head. We believe it to be trauma-related at this time, Volusia County Beach Patrol Tamra Marris said.
Rescuers arent sure if that blow was from his surfboard of if Fernandez hit the bottom of the ocean floor.
Officials said the waves were 8 to 10 feet high when Fernandez was surfing.
If you're looking at it from a surfer's point of view, its perfect, Marris said.
Students who knew Fernandez said he will be missed.
He was a great guy, always was fair, Brian Davis said. "He had quite a bit of experience. He was a great teacher, too. One of my best."
There wont be an official cause of death until an autopsy is performed.
Beach patrol officials said Fernandez was an experienced surfer, which underlines their warning that everyone needs to be extra careful when the waters are rough.