Kevin Kearney, the Florida kite surfer who damn near was killed before a video camera when he was lofted and slammed into a wall by Tropical Storm Fay, is now recovering at home after a stay in the hospital. While the principal injuries accrued (which about a third of newspapers mistakenly reported as a windsurfing accident) include a broken back (in four places,) rib, and ankle, he also got conked in the head. Evidence for the conking comes from Kearney himself, who told ER doctors that they had grabbed the wrong guy...nothing untoward had happened to him when he kitesurfed Fay…he had a good sesh, then went out to dinner, and then went home.
When presented with a mirror and X-rays, Kearney was unmoved. “Wasn’t me, dude.” Kearney’s mom says his memory may have been skewed when he hit his head, according to the Miami Herald. (I wonder if he’s seen the video clip yet.)
The Herald has no additional information, as the family has apparently cut a deal with Inside Edition and is no longer talking to reporters who don’t pay them. In any event, word is that Kearney is on his feet and walking, and that is a good thing.
When presented with a mirror and X-rays, Kearney was unmoved. “Wasn’t me, dude.” Kearney’s mom says his memory may have been skewed when he hit his head, according to the Miami Herald. (I wonder if he’s seen the video clip yet.)
The Herald has no additional information, as the family has apparently cut a deal with Inside Edition and is no longer talking to reporters who don’t pay them. In any event, word is that Kearney is on his feet and walking, and that is a good thing.
At first I thought, great the dude's going on Inside Edition and will help clear up the difference between Kitesurfing and windsurfing. Then I realized if he doesn't remember the crash, there's a chance he won't remember what he was doing until he sees the video of himself at which time someone will say, "dude, look at this video of you windsurfing. I told you that you almost killed yourself." Then he'll say, "wow, I can't believe I was crazy enough to try that windsurfing crap." Personally, I'll stick with this sailboarding thing I seem to be getting good at and stay away from that dangerous windsurfing stuff.
Posted by: Mike Burns | August 25, 2008 at 11:08 AM
"Wasn't me dude". I like it, it's up there with Steve Martin's "I forgot''.
Posted by: Mike J | August 25, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Check out the Good Morning America interview with this guy: http://abcnews.go.com/gma
He makes a complete buffoon of himself and ruins it for the responsible kiters (and windsurfers) out there. The kite forums are lit up saying he has brain damage, didn't know what he was saying, that GMA took advantage of him, and edited the longer interview down to show only the negative aspects of his interview. What a mess. We're hearing that the local NC beaches are getting more calls now from "concerned" residents about the kiters out in the water, since that video has aired. This is the kind of thing that will also hurt windsurfing unfortunately.
Posted by: Mac | August 26, 2008 at 08:41 PM
Unfortunately it is guys like him that get the real bad name for kiting...........I'm not bias (am I?) . But come on this guy must have been thinking out of his back end!
Posted by: Bunty | August 27, 2008 at 07:09 AM
It's a live interview (here is the link) so it hasn't been edited. I like the weatherman's body language during the interview...he looks like he wants to take a bat to this fool to put him back in the hospital where he might come to his senses.
A fool is what he is. We've all met the type. He's not taking a calculated risk...he's just saying "whatever happens happens...I'm going out." The weatherman's point about the unpredictability of gusts in a storm is a good one for all of us.
Posted by: michael | August 27, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.
Posted by: fussball | March 02, 2009 at 08:33 AM