East Coast Surfing Champion Dies in Mysterious Tragedy in Florida

According to early reports, providing scant details so far, a surfer has died in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, south of Jacksonville on the morning of Thursday, November 7th. Conflicting reports say the deceased surfer, as of yet only described as a male, was either pulled from the water or found on the sand.

Per First Coast News, they reported the former:

“A surfer died after he was found in critical condition along the surf line in Ponte Vedra Beach Thursday.

“St. Johns County Fire Rescue received a call around 8 a.m. after the man was found on the beach behind a private home along Ponte Vedra Boulevard near San Diego Road.”

As for News4Jax, they reported the latter:

“A man died Thursday after he was pulled from the water with a surfboard attached to his leg in Ponte Vedra Beach, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.”

Once again, information is still slim as to what exactly happened. However, both outlets confirmed that the man was transferred to the hospital, where he later died.

UPDATE: Per the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union(via Yahoo), the man has been identified as 73-year-old Joe Rolan, who was “a Beaches surfing legend who at 17 became the East Coast Surfing Association's first men's champion and then traveled to compete in two world championships, died Thursday after he was found washed up on the shore with his surfboard still attached to his ankle.”

According to authorities, no foul play is suspected, nor was there evidence of a shark attack.  

Recently, in the south of the state, another surfer was attacked by a shark for the second time. Cole Taschman was mauled by a shark on October 25th, requiring 93 stitches, while surfing Bathtub Beach in Martin County. Back in 2013, Taschman was attacked at the very same spot.

A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $8,000 of their $30,000 goal.

No such crowdfunding campaign has emerged – just yet – to support this Rolands in Florida. Nonetheless, rest in peace. This is a developing story; stay tuned.