Back in February, Mathew Cassidy was surfing in Byron Bay, Australia when a loose surfboard, careening through the lineup, struck him in the arm causing serious damage.
The fin from the stray longboard sliced his arm so badly that he nearly died. Luckily, other surfers in the lineup sprang into action, and used a surfboard leash to quell the bleeding. Cassidy survived to surf again. However, because of this incident and others like it, local officials are proposing a law making it required to wear a leash in Byron Bay.
Byron Shire councilor, Cait Coorey, will present the motion during this week’s council meeting. And the fine for surfers not complying with the new order if it passes? $1,100.
“They happen quite often, and they’re potentially fatal,” Coorey told ABC News. “It’s one of those things like wearing seatbelts — it’s not that hard to do, it should just become commonplace.”
Of course, enforcing such a law would be difficult. And some surfers might not comply.
“Surfers have always been rebellious and they’ll continue to be rebellious,” said President of the Byron Bay Boardriders Club, Neil Camero. “I see people paddle out without leg ropes and, to be honest, a lot of them are good surfers and don’t lose their boards.”
But the danger of loose surfboards washing through the lineup, especially longboards at highly-populated spots like The Pass in Byron Bay, is serious business.
“Particularly if you’re surfing on a nine-foot board, that thing is a missile,” said Wilsons Creek surfer, Mike Duff. “When the surf gets a little bit bigger those things are much harder to hold onto.”
As for Cassidy, he has recovered from the incident back in February. He posted on Instagram, sharing that he’s back in the water after nearly losing his life.
“I’m back baby!” he wrote. “5 weeks after nearly losing everything I’m surfing again.”
The mandatory leash motion is set to hit the council floor on Thursday. Stay tuned to see what happens.
***
Don’t miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We’re always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.
Whether you’re a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.