DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. – The Volusia County community is rallying around a surfer now fighting for his life after a bad accident last week near the Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach Shores.
Beach Safety officials said it happened on Friday morning and the 49-year-old man sustained a head injury while surfing before crashing into the pier.
Now, his friends tell News 6 Jorge Alvarado is on life support and fighting for his life in the hospital.
“Jorge is the embodiment of the phrase ‘this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine’,” said his friend, Chis Chibbaro. ”I think the most important thing is that he’s alive, he’s strong, and he’s fighting.”
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Alvarado is described by many friends as a staple in the Volusia surf community.
“He has this jovial spirit, makes fast friends with everyone. He’s kind of like all of the community youngsters, he’s almost like their uncle and dad or something,” said Brian Holmes.
Chibbaro and Holmes are among those now standing by Alvarado’s side in the hospital with his family.
“We’ve all taken hundreds of falls like this and some of us have had close calls, rubbing into the bottom a few times but you really have to fall just right to have an injury like this,” said Holmes.
Beach Safety officials said Alvarado was surfing near Sunglow Pier when he went underwater, likely hitting his head either on the sand or a sandbar. They said he was held underwater and then wrapped around a piling on the pier.
It took other surfers, restaurant staff, and other bystanders several minutes to free him.
“I know that a busboy, Sam, saw him and was really active. There were a few people right on scene who got to him and bravely went out there to get him out and as soon as they got him out Volusia County was here and went to work right away,” said Chibbaro.
Alvarado’s friends said it’s a risk they’re always taking in the water.
“Whenever you have something you do that has an inherent risk, whether it’s motocross, fishing offshore, or whether it’s surfing, everybody kind of looks out for each other because we have to and here, more than ever, it’s family,” said Chibbaro.
A GoFundMe has been set up for him.
His friends tell News 6 he is a father and grandfather, but like family to many.
“We love you, Jorge, we love you so much, we love your family, and the whole world is pulling for you, I promise,” said Chibbaro.
Holmes added: “We’re going to get you back in the water soon, buddy.”
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