A father of 4 succumbed to a tragic ending after a huge gust of wind took control of his kite surf sending him into the side of a building and killing him.
Fred Salter, 61, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was doing what he loved most during Wednesday’s fatal accident, South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported.
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Fort Lauderdale Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan told CNN that Salter was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but died from his injuries just after 1 p.m.
According to Gollan, a bystander told the rescue crew that the man had launched from a beach a couple of homes down before striking the side of the building.
Once rescue teams arrived, they found Salter with the orange kite still draped over the balcony of the residence.
Speaking to People, the Chief added, "This type of accident is definitely not common and the last time we experienced a kiteboarding accident was about 10 years ago."
A GoFundMe page has been dedicated to assisting Salter’s family with funeral expenses. The man was a father to four children and a grandfather to two.
“Fred Salter, tragically passed away yesterday doing what he loved most," the page read. "After beating cancer, Fred never took life for granted and lived each moment to its fullest."
"If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting Fred, you would know how kind and loving he was. He valued his family and enormous group of friends more than anything," the page continued. "Fred was the center of his children's universe and now they are left with the unknown."
On Facebook, one user wrote, "The community is still shocked, in disbelief, and saddened... [Salter] is a one of a kind & a good man to all!"
The GoFundMe page has since raised over $6,000.
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