The most intimidating thing about learning to surf in Hawaii might not be a wipeout, a haole slap from an OG local, or a sneaker set taking out the whole lineup. For a small number of beginners, the danger can emerge while simply lying on a board.
The condition is called surfer’s myelopathy, a rare spinal cord injury that can cause paralysis without a collision, impact, or broken bone.
Its consequences are devastatingly real for Brock Kelly, a 24-year-old fitness entrepreneur from Mississippi who suffered the injury while surfing on a work trip to Hawaii on November 6. See the hospital post from Kelly, linked here, and below.
Kelly wrote: “I was in a rare surfing accident that left me paralyzed from the waist down. It’s called ‘surfers myelopathy’ and it occurs when you hyper-extend your back and it cuts off oxygen to the legs. In simple terms, it’s pretty much a stroke of the lower body.”
According to his family’s GoFundMe, Kelly is currently paralyzed from the waist down.
“Brock is strong, resilient, and incredibly kind!” his supporters wrote, although his prognosis remains uncertain. The fundraiser is helping cover medical care, travel, and rehabilitation.
The crowdfunding account continues, explaining the injury:
“On Friday, November 6, while on a work trip in Hawaii, Brock Kelly experienced a life-changing surfing accident that resulted in a rare, non-traumatic spinal cord injury known as surfer’s myelopathy. Brock is currently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of this injury. We are hopeful that this is not permanent, but so much remains uncertain, and we know there may be a long road ahead.”
See the condition explained by a neurosurgeon, linked here, and below.
In a 2025 American Academy of Neurology study abstract, scientists from the University of Hawaii and Queen’s Medical Center studied 11 patients, ages 16 to 39. All developed symptoms during or shortly after their first surf lesson. None knew about the condition beforehand or recalled being warned by their instructor.
Seven of 10 patients who provided positioning details reported spending more than 45 consecutive minutes on their stomachs with their backs arched.
The leading theory? Holding that position too long may restrict blood flow to the spinal cord, essentially causing a spinal stroke. In one patient, researchers observed blood flow in an artery supplying the spinal circulation disappear during back hyperextension.
Related: Girlfriend of Murdered California Surf Legend Arrested in Shocking Twist From Costa Rica
First symptoms commonly include lower back pain, followed by tingling, weakness, or inability to walk—sometimes within half an hour.
As Beat of Hawaii warned, “Even the gentle waves of a beginner surf lesson in Waikiki don’t eliminate that concern.”
The research team recommends “sitting up on the surfboard while idling” rather than remaining in that arched position between waves.
Still, perspective matters. Fewer than 100 cases had been described in medical literature over about two decades, according to Queen’s researcher Dr. Stacy Brown. The 2025 research involved a small group of patients, not an estimate of risk for all beginners, and the exact cause remains under investigation.
For new surfers, the takeaway is simple: ask about positioning, stop immediately if unusual back pain develops, and seek emergency medical care for weakness or numbness.
A first surf lesson should be unforgettable—for the right reasons.
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