“Absolute Legend” Surfer Killed At Teahupoo Named As La Jolla’s Patrick Phillips - BeachGrit
Summary
Drowning It Was California in It was, California: Patrick Phillips, a 56-year-old recreational surfer from La Jolla, California, died after hitting the reef and breaking two vertebrae in his neck during a wipeout at Teahupoo in French Polynesia on Thursday. Another surfer resuscitated Phillips on site before he was transported to the nearby Taravao Hospital and later to the Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie Française, where he hovered between life and death. The rescue was complicated by a language barrier, according to the Taiarapu-Ouest fire chief. A paddle-out memorial was held in La Jolla following his death.
Publicly reported parties
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Phillips | Unknown | Fatal |
Original reporting
“Absolute Legend” Surfer Killed At Teahupoo Named As La Jolla’s Patrick Phillips - BeachGrit