Kitesurfer horrifically injured when blown into power lines reveals how he survived

Chris Herbert can’t remember much about a horrific kite surfing accident – but he’s sure of one thing: “I cheated death three times that day.”

Chris Herbert at Umina with his daughter Emma, recollecting a horrific kite surfing accident. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Chris Herbert can’t remember much about the horrific kite surfing accident that left him with shattered teeth, a broken jaw, stitches and a skin graft – but he’s sure of one thing: “I cheated death three times that day.”

May 19 was the perfect day for kitesurfing, windy and choppy, and Mr Herbert was ready for his second run on the water.

But as he prepared to launch from Umina Beach, disaster struck.

The kite shot over his head and the hand bar smashed into the top of his jaw, ripping out his teeth and knocking him unconscious.

The 58-year-old was whipped up into the air and swept from the beach to the road – travelling at speed toward a house.

But his kite became caught in powerlines, causing him to tangle, before falling 5m to the ground.

Everything was black, and Mr Herbert lay unconscious on the road for 10 minutes.

Kite surfer Chris Herbert, who was injured in a major accident. Picture: Phil Holloway

His close mate was first to his aid, cutting the kite harness and rigging strings from his body so he wasn’t in further danger, while local nurse Stacey Bridge worked to stabilise his lacerated body until emergency services rushed to his side.

As well as shattered teeth and a broken jaw, the kite strings lacerated his neck, leaving gaping wounds, his elbows had been scraped and sliced open, and there was a huge gash on his ankle.

Chris Herbert lies seriously injured after a kite surfing accident at Umina Beach on May 19, in which was blown into powerlines. Picture: TNV

A CareFlight helicopter transported him to Royal North Shore where trauma nurses and doctors worked to treat his bleeding wounds and injured limbs.

At the time, NSW Ambulance Inspector Phil Clark said Mr Herbert was carried “quite a distance through the air”.

“He’s cleared the beach and become entangled on the power lines on the road that runs along the beach,” he said.

“Considering what happened to him, he is a very lucky man.”

Emergency services rushed to Chris Herbert’s side. Picture: TNV

While his injuries were serious, Mr Herbert was grateful, he tells the Sunday Telegraph, saying: “I cheated death not once but three times that day”.

The first survival miracle was the powerlines.

“If I hadn’t hit the powerlines, I would have slammed straight into the house,” he said.

The second was the angle at which he hit the powerlines, with the kite absorbing the impact instead of his body.

“I would have been electrocuted. If I touched those powerlines, I would have been dead.”

The third miracle was his strict rule to always wear safety gear – including a vest, helmet and full body wetsuit.

Chris Herbert’s lacerated jaw. Picture: Supplied

Chris Herbert required skin graft on his ankle. Picture: Supplied

“The chin strap on my helmet stopped the kite strings from slicing into my neck,” he said.

“The doctors said the strings would have cut right through my jugular. I would have bled out on the road before anyone got there.

“It’s really a miracle. It could have been so different.”

Mr Herbert said as he regained consciousness on the pavement, surrounded by specialist paramedics and doctors, he could feel his late mum by his side.

“My mum and a couple of my mates were there. I could feel them gathered in a circle around me,” he said.

“They weren’t ready for me to join them yet though.”

Chris Herbert’s daughter Emma was told by trauma nurses that if her father hadn’t been wearing a helmet, he wouldn’t be here today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

His daughter Emma remembers the trauma nurses telling her that if her father hadn’t been wearing a helmet, he wouldn’t be here today.

“It’s a very scary thought,” she said. “If he wasn’t careful and wearing a helmet, the nurses said he would have been decapitated.

“It was horrific (when I heard about the accident).

“I was so worried and knowing his condition was so serious was very frightening.”

Mr Herbert spent three days in hospital, before he was released, and this week underwent a skin graft on his ankle.

While he’ll be off his feet for a few days while the skin heals, and off work for some time while his body heals, he is already rearing to get back on the water.

A kitesurfer for more than 10 years, the incident has only made his advocacy for safety gear stronger.

“I’m excited to get back out there,” he said.

“This isn’t enough to stop me, it’s too much fun. But you’ve got to be safe. I’m proof of that.”

Mr Herbert and his daughter said they had been blown away by their local seaside community, who have checked in on him constantly, and even donated to a fundraiser dedicated to his recovery.

“Locals from the community were the first ones to help me, and I can’t wait to thank them all for their support and assistance,” he said.

To donate to the fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/chris-herbert-pappa-herbs

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