A kitesurfer who was seriously injured in an accident at the Belgian coast on Wednesday has died in hospital.
The 63-year-old man from Diest was reportedly caught off guard by a violent gust of wind.
The incident took place on Wednesday at around 15:15 on the beach at Oostduinkerke, a borough of Koksijde in Flanders.
A kitesurfer was about to head out to sea, but he was caught off guard by the strong wind. The powerful gust struck the kitesurfer’s sail, causing him to be thrown off balance.
The victim struck his head against a jet ski belonging to the local water sports club. The impact split his helmet in two.
Rescuers and the emergency services rushed to the scene to administer first aid to the man. He had to be resuscitated, after which he was taken to hospital in a critical condition. He died of his injuries on Wednesday evening.
