63-Year-Old Scottish Man Dies While Surfing in Cornwall

Cornwall, the epicenter of English surfing, suffered a tragic loss when a 63-year-old Scottish surfer was found unresponsive at Gwithian Beach in Hayle on September 24.

“He was recovered from the water by lifeguards," according to a police spokesperson. Emergency crews responded to the downed surfer, who was eventually declared dead on the scene.

The man's identity has not been released. He "had been surfing in the sea at the time of the incident," according to the police spokesperson. Foul play has been ruled out. There are no further details regarding the cause of death available at this time.

The waves in Cornwall gained notoriety in the 1960s when some of the first surfboards made their way to the UK. Since then, it's served as the hub for surf culture and community in the country. Popular with locals and travelers alike, Newquay is the most well-known surf town in Cornwall.

Thanks to its Atlantic-facing edge, Cornwall receives a bounty of swell throughout the year. Enjoying exposure to both west and south swells, the consistency has been known to draw crowds, especially during holiday periods, but there's still plenty of opportunity out there to explore and score.

Like so many other wave-rich parts of the world, the fall is the best time of year for Cornwall as a steady run of Atlantic energy finds its way to the myriad of points and beach and reefs. As winter sets in the water temps dip and the storms intensify. Late spring and summer are considerably mellower as the Atlantic swells slow down.