Saltburn surfer knocked unconscious whilst surfing off Staithes.

A 56-year-old surfer from Saltburn was taken to hospital this morning (Monday) after being knocked unconscious while surfing off Staithes.




Saltburn's Gary Rogers, (pictured in the background) proprietor of the Saltburn Surf Shop and described as a “surf legend” by the website Surf Nation, is a highly experienced surfer with more than 40 years of surfing history. He was surfing at a spot known as The Cove, near Staithes when he hit his head on the scar/scaur at low tide and was left unconscious as two sets of waves broke over him.

Fellow surfers carried him to Staithes and Runswick RNLI boathouse where he regained full consciousness. The RNLI station doctor Graham Croft treated him for knee and minor head injuries. He was also attended by paramedics from the Air Ambulance service whose helicopter landed at Cowbar and by the North East Ambulance service who took him to James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough.

The Cove is a highly favoured location for its big break but is regarded as suitable only for experienced surfers. A Staithes RNLI spokesperson said: “Anyone in trouble on the foreshore should always carry a mobile phone and call the Coastguard. Ideally, any casualty should be kept on the foreshore until help arrives.”