Who is Katherine Diaz Surfer: Bio, Olympic-Lead Career, Why She’s Dead?

Lee Meo [email protected] March 23, 2021 | 01:32

Katherine Diaz, 22, who is an Olympic surfer hopeful has unfortunately passed away. Let’s rewind about her shining sports career and other information around her including the recent death.

It is with a heavy heart that the ISA has learned about the passing of El Salvador’s Katherine Diaz, ISA wrote on Twitter.

Who is Katherine Diaz?

Katherine Diaz, 22 is a top surfer in El Salvador who was aiming for the Olympics.

The International Surfing Association (ISA) wrote on Facebook that Diaz, a chef who had opened her own restaurant in El Tunco, “embodied the joy and energy that make surfing so special and dear to us all, as a global ambassador of the sport.”

It noted that she had represented “her country with pride at both the ISA World Surfing Games and ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.”

The International Surfing Association (ISA) 2021 Surf City El Salvador World Surfing Games are set to be held from May 29 to June 6 at the La Bocana and El Sunzal beaches and will act as the final qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020, where surfing will be making its debut Olympic appearance.

According to Sky News, the young athlete had competed in numerous surfing events and had high hopes for competing in the Tokyo Games, where surfing has been included for the first time.

Katherine Diaz’s Death

According to Daily News, Diaz was training near her home in El Tunco when she was hit by lightning, according to Spanish-language media. First responders tried to revive her on the beach, but were unsuccessful.

According to the Spanish newspaper AS (via the Olympic Channel), “the sky was clear and it was an unforeseen storm that did not seem to carry much electrical intensity either.”

"She excelled at the int'l competition level, representing her country with pride at both the World Surfing Games and ISA World Jr Surfing Championship.", ISA wrote.

The Salvadoran Surf Federation also wrote on social media: ‘A great athlete who has represented our country has left us. See you soon, great warrior. El Salvador is in mourning.’

Among the tributes online, Central American Art tweeted: ‘So sad to share the news of Salvadoran surfer, Katherine Diaz’s passing. She was one of El Salvador’s most popular surf athletes with large recognition for popularising women’s surfing in El Salvador.’

It added: ‘Her surfing legacy started when she was a child in her home in La Libertad, where she would compete in local surf competitions and started gaining recognition by winning competitions and later becoming the first woman in El Salvador’s national surf team to go on to represent.’

El Salvador’s tourism minister Morena Valdez also wrote: ‘You will always be present in the surfing history of #ElSalvador. Your waves will always remember you in this paradise. Rest in peace Katherine Diaz.’

Surfers are an easy target for lightning strikes

Lightning strikes are a real threat to surfers and wave riders in general. The electrostatic discharges between clouds and the Earth can be deadly, but you can dramatically reduce your chances of being hit, according to Surfer Today.

The good news is that only 25 percent of all lightning events worldwide are Cloud to Ground (CG) lightning. Intracloud (IC) or Cloud to Cloud (CC) lightning strikes are more frequent.

Surfers can avoid lightning-related injury and death. The key is to monitor weather conditions closely and react to any developing threat quickly.

Who is Katherine Diaz Surfer: Bio, Olympic-Lead Career, Why She’s Dead?

Watch how wind, rain, the ocean, and clouds behave.

The Australian Standard on Lightning Protection is a great tool for those seeking adrenaline, even during thunderstorms.

The 30/30 Rule is designed to provide guidance on the suspension and resumption of activities in an outdoor environment.

It tells us you shouldn't go surfing - or that you should get out of the water if you already are - when the flash-to-bang count reaches 30 seconds or less.

This number indicates that the actual bolt of lightning causing the sound is just 10 kilometers (or less) away.

In this case, you should only resume your surfing when 30 minutes have passed since the last sighting of lightning.

Precautions:

1. Get out of and away from open water;

2. If you are on a surfboard and can't get to shore, crouch down in the middle of the board;

3. Get inside a home or inside an all-metal vehicle and keep the windows rolled up;

4. Get off of and away from motorcycles, scooters, golf carts, and bicycles. Put down golf clubs.

5. Stay a few feet away from open windows, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, electric boxes, and outlets;

6. Avoid using regular telephones, except in an emergency;

7. If your skin tingles or your hair stands on end, a lightning strike may be about to occur;

8. In large open fields, do not lie flat on the ground. Keep your hands on your knees and lower your head. Get as low as possible without touching your hands or knees to the ground;

9. Monitor local weather conditions regularly with an AM/FM radio;

10. A person struck by lightning may appear dead, with no pulse or breath, but can be revived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There is no danger to anyone helping a person who has been struck by lightning;

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