Last monday I took a little trip to the ER after being pile-driven face first into the reef while surfing at the end of my street here in Satellite Beach... I had just gotten a beautiful long left, glassy and way overhead and was paddling back out when I got hit by a wave right in the impact zone evidently right over the rock shelf - I tried to bail out and dive under, but the wave picked me up and slammed me down and I hit.... never so hard in my life - I felt and heard my neck crack and when I came up, I could not move my arms or legs and went back down when the next wave slammed me again... Then luckily, I was able move my arms just enough to pull my board to me by the leash just before I was slammed a third time and dragged along the bottom some more... I eventually got on my board somehow and washed into the beach, screaming for help when some surfers dragged me on my board up to dry land and called 911. The PMs arrived quickly and put me on one of those back boards w/ a neck brace and off to the ER I went... By this time I could wiggle my hands and toes and was thanking God that I wasn't paralized (or drowned)...

At the ER, they gave me a Catscan and determined that my neck wasn't broken (thank God) but I had herniated a couple of disks... They called a plastic surgeon who came in and stiched up my face, my ex-wife came and took me home, then went and got my perscriptions filled for pain & relaxers & antibiotics - (I've been bombed out ever since haha)...

On Friday I went and had an MRI which revealed that somehow I had escaped major damage to bones, ligaments, muscles, etc. (although I have a slight concussion) I am sort of up and about in a limited way and am very glad to be alive and not in a wheelchair or the hospital. I don't, however, have full use of my right arm (I can't raise it any farther than my shoulder) and am in quite a bit of pain in spite of all the drugs... But I guess it could have been alot worse...

It's been a week now and I'm much better but still have alot of pain and still can't raise my right arm past my shoulder - I'm going to the chiropractor this afternoon (for the fist time ever) hopefully he can help...

I just wanted to thank the guys on the beach who carried me up out of the water and took care of me on the beach until the paramedics got there, also a big thanks to CFLDave who posted the news on this forum that was seen by some friends who contacted my family to let them know what happend.

I'm gonna try to post a picture (to gross everyone out) but this is my first post on the forum (hi everyone!) so I'm not sure if it'll work the first time...

My name is Fred Cheney, I'm an artist from Satellite Beach and have been surfing around here since the late '70's...

ouch doesnt look fun at all!!! my friend had a fin cut about a week ago also....Get well and enjoy some swell, yea im a poet in my free time.....ya right

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Creme de la Creme
Stoke to all and to all a good night

Damn, scary story! It could happen to anyone. Good luck on the recovery.

I hope someone in the city where you got hurt puts up a sign warning other surfers of the bottom. I glad your ok and get well soon. We get warned by lifeguards of everything that will sting you or bite you and now I hope they tell the surfers that might not know about the bottom.

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Ride the nose, don't pick it.

Man, I thought I had it bad with a broken nose, and fractured orbital from last week! Jeez, you definitely won the who can get hurt the worst and still survive award!

Maybe we can get together and exchange pain meds!











Edited: 09/19/2005 at 11:49 AM by 3rdworldlover

Glad you are recovering Fred..

Fred,
Glad you are doing better. I saw the paramedics on the beach that day and Dave told me what happened when I got to the beach. That inside was really breaking crazy that afternoon. Take care and if there is anything we can do for you, let us know.
Chuck

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One more time.

Never met you, but wishing you a speedy recovery. Your injuries sound pretty bad, but I'm sure you're happy it wasn't worse.

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."
-- Henry Mencken

Scary story man. Good to hear you are o.k.. It's easy to forget that you can really get hurt in our sport. Not just for newbies who dont know any better but also for people who have surfed 20+ years and have just been lucky enough to not be seriously (spelling?) hurt. You become complacent and careless. Be careful out there guys, especially if we get another swell like the last one. BTW does anybody know if the Frank Little who died surfing at Patrick a few weeks ago is the same who used to work at Travis Hardware in Cocoa 12 or so years ago?

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I've surfed most of the days of my life, the rest have just been wasted

Hey Fred, glad to hear you weren't hurt any worse.....although that sucks.

For those who don't know Fred was an accomplished airbrush artist around here back in the
seventies, eighties. Awesome waves, surfboards, murals, vans etc.....
I remember watching him airbrush on canvas at the Melbourne Art Show, back in oh...like
1978, 1979 time frame??.........it's what got me airbrushing and doing surf art.

Couldn't find anything on a google search...Fred, you should post up some of your stuff.



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www.timebaughdesigns.com

Edited: 09/19/2005 at 12:49 PM by Timinator

Fred,

Glad to hear your "okay", Hurley was just asking how you were doing the other day, looks VERY painful but glad to hear no unrecoverable damage,

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Romans 1:15-17 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes".

Thanks for sharing the stoke bro, I'm gonna go buy some surfboards now. Just kidding. I hope you feel better and your right arm fully recovers!!!!!!!

hard to picture that as a florida wave story... sounds like a much heavier place. glad you are ok and get well soon!

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They paved paradise and put up a parking lot (or a condo)



If you're robbing a bank and your pants fall down, I think it's okay to laugh and to let the hostages laugh too, because, come on, life is funny. -- Jack Handy

Hey Fred, I hope you heal and get back out in the water!

FYI, that day he got hurt was very treacherous. I had a hard time paddling through the inside break just to get in. I saw the commotion on the beach and wanted to get in and help. It was pretty hard to committ just bellying one in. It was crashing all at once on the inside rocks. I sometime's wonder why more people don't get hurt while surfing!

Fred, I'm relieved to hear you're doing ok. The accident sounded so nasty and it could have been worse. I'll have the guys play some good tunes for you. Take care.
Todd

Thanks everyone, for your kind and encouraging words - I'm doing much better now after two weeks,
my face is all healed but my arm is still out of comission. I have had almost unbearable of pain in my neck,
back & right shoulder, but it is finally starting to subside... I'm still hoping for complete recovery,
but still thankful to be alive and walking! I hope to be back surfing and doing my art very soon - Ya'll be carefull out there!!!!