Florida surfer on life support after bizarre accident in Daytona Beach

A Florida surfer is on life support after crashing into a pier in Daytona Beach, Florida, on September 13.

Jorge Alvarado, 49, was surfing on the south side of Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach at 9 a.m. when the accident occurred.

Alvarado may have hit a sandbar and then become entangled in a piling beneath the pier, said Tamra Malphurs, director of the Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue organization.

A witness said he saw Alvarado crash headfirst into the pole before sinking.

It took the surfers several minutes to free Alvarado so rescuers could perform life-saving measures before he was taken to the hospital.

A witness said he saw Alvarado fall head first into the piling before sinking. It took several minutes for surfers to free Alvarado, allowing rescuers to perform life-saving measures before he was taken to the hospital.

Malphurs told the Daytona Beach News-Journal it was possible the current pushed him into the pier after he hit his head.

The late surfer’s daughter, Emily Alvarado, asked for “prayers for my dad” on Facebook.

Emily did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com.

His friend Justin Gore organized a GoFundMe campaign that raised $11,675 to “provide for him and his family during this difficult time.”

Gore also posted a heartfelt thank you video on his Facebook page when the campaign hit the $10,000 mark, saying, “It's going to be a long road to recovery.”

“You made this brother keep fighting.”

According to the National Weather Service, there has been only one rip current death in the Daytona Beach surf zone this year.

His friend Justin Gore organized a GoFundMe campaign that raised $11,675. When the campaign hit the $10,000 mark, he also posted a heartfelt thank you video on his Facebook page, writing, “It's going to be a long road to recovery.”

Maphurs said experienced surfers are rarely involved in accidents due to beach safety, except when it involves shark bites. She also said surfers should not stay closer than 150 feet from the pier, but was unsure how close Alvarado was. PICTURED: Jorge Alvarado (center), Dylan Alvarado (right) and Emily Alvarado (right)

Maphurs said experienced surfers rarely get involved in accidents due to beach safety, except when it involves shark bites. She also said surfers should not venture closer than 50 yards to the pier, but was unsure how close Alvarado was.

This incident occurred just two months after a Pennsylvania couple on vacation in Florida were caught in a rip current and drowned in front of their six children.

Brian Warter, 51, and his girlfriend Erica Wishart, 48, were on the beach behind the Marriott Hotel on Hutchinson Island, north of West Palm Beach, on July 18 when the tragedy occurred.

Two of the teenagers were also caught in the current, but were able to reach the shore.

They tried to help their parents but could not reach them because it had become too dangerous for them.