RIP Dana Brown

[billie_morini]

I relate to this story in many ways and hope you do, too. Ways: 1) I love surfing, 2) I try to be humble, 3) I believe I'd die happy if dying doing something I love (that's how Mrs. Morini and I viewed it when I raced motorcycles), 4) I surf at Cocoa Beach, FL, every few years, 5) I, too, was exhilarated the first time I surfed at Huntington Beach Pier, and 6) I think I would have liked this guy based on his principles.

Story --

Florida surfer, 60, dies fulfilling Southern California dream to ride the waves off Huntington Beach - after crashing into pier pillar.

- Dana Brown, 60, was paddling near the Huntington Beach pier near sunset on November 6 when he was slammed into a pier pillar
- Florida native died four days later at a hospital from his injuries
- He had driven from Florida to Huntington Beach on dream trip to surf there
- His friend, Racheal Katz, said the surfer 'died doing what he loved'

A Florida surfer who dreamed of riding Southern California waves has died doing what he loved. Dana Brown, 60, was paddling near the Huntington Beach pier with waves swelled between four to six feet when he was slammed into a pier pillar on November 6 near sunset.

Dana Brown (above), a Florida surfer who dreamed of riding Southern California waves, has died doing what he loved. He was deeply religious and wouldn't surf on the Sabbath.

Brown, 60, was paddling near the Huntington Beach pier with waves swelled between four to six feet when he was slammed into a pier pillar on November 6 near sunset He died at a hospital four days later. He was underwater for several minutes before other surfers saw him and towed him to shore, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his funeral expenses.

Brown lived in a van with his father, George. Racheal Katz met them about four years ago in Cocoa Beach, Florida. 'Dana and his dad were innocent,' she told the Los Angeles Times. 'You don't see innocent people any more, and you definitely don't find innocent 60-year-olds.' Brown, who wore a long white beard, was deeply religious and wouldn't surf on the Sabbath, she said. He took care of his ailing father, bathing, feeding and reading to him. 'When his dad got sick, he spent probably every day with him,' Katz said.

He died at a hospital four days later. Brown (above) lived in a van with his father, George. He took care of his ailing father, bathing, feeding and reading to him until he died in March.

'Dana carried him in and out of that van every day. He didn't want him in any kind of an adult caring facility.'
His father's death in March dealt Brown emotional and financial blows, and he spent many weekends at his father's gravesite, according to the GoFundMe page. 'They had a journey together, him and his dad,' Katz said. 'The death kind of ruined what Dana believed.'

About six months later, Brown left Cocoa Beach, Florida to go on his dream trip to Huntington Beach, California. The Orange County city is known for its excellent surfing and has trademarked the title 'Surf City USA.'

Brown is expected to be buried next to his father in Cocoa Beach on December 3. 'I hope he caught one great wave,' Katz said. 'He died doing what he loved.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... dream.html
By ASSOCIATED PRESS and REGINA F. GRAHAM FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 16:04 EST, 19 November 2016 | UPDATED: 06:35 EST, 20 November 2016

[oldmansurfer]

Perhaps he wanted to die in which case it is sad that it took him 4 days to die. If he didn't want to die then this was preventable and he died because he wasn't properly prepared.

[oldmansurfer]

Somebody convince me that running into the Huntington pier is what he loved to do

[DreamSurf]

look at his body

the dude has a pectar of a 20 year old

rest in peace

[OlegLupusov]

Another casualty at one of my regular spots. With rip currents and not that small waves, I am pretty sure it was an accident not a suicide. I saw "near misses" a couple of times at that location.