He collided with another surfer.
One of Mandy Moore’s close friends was killed in a surfing accident on Saturday.
Gerry Gilhool, 51, died after colliding with another surfer at Rincon Point in Ventura County, California, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
Rescuers were called to the popular surf spot at 1.30pm where they found surfers administering CPR to an unconscious Gilhool on the beach.
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Witnesses said the water was crowded at the time of the crash and the waves were big, but the breakout zone was shallow.
They reported seeing Gilhool surfing a wave, but his board hit another surfer who was hiding underwater, knocking him out.
Another runner who was nearby told police the wipeout didn’t seem particularly bad, the Ventura County Star reported; however Gilhool had hit his head badly, knocking him out. Other surfers paddled him to shore on his board, where they attempted to provide first aid.
As first responders called for an air ambulance, Gilhool went into cardiac arrest. The helicopter arrived and hovered over the beach, but never landed. Instead, the patient was rushed by ambulance to Community Memorial Hospital, but was later pronounced dead. The official cause of death has not yet been revealed.
The second surfer, who witnesses said had his head and nose severed by the fin of Gilhool’s board, managed to get himself to hospital.
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Gilhool was the tour manager for the band Dawes, whose lead singer Taylor Goldsmith is married to Mandy Moore.
As Mandy’s heartbroken tribute revealed, he was very close friends with the couple.
“Oh my God. It’s so hard to write these words,” she wrote, sharing several photos of them together. “Yesterday our dear friend Gerry G passed away suddenly in a surfing accident and it just doesn’t seem real.”
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“Gerry was a commanding presence and personality…and if you were lucky enough to be in his orbit and were a friend, his loyalty and love knew no bounds. I spent many years @dawestheband show with him, stage side, dance and laugh and tell him how much I fell in love with my now husband. Some of my fondest memories.”
“I have never known anyone who takes as much pleasure in helping others as Gerry. Nor have I ever known anyone who revels in parenthood as he did. He was meant to to be a father and a boy, if he excelled in every way.Just a few weeks ago we were on the phone excitedly discussing Gus’ arrival and he mentioned that he wanted to open a school of swimming for the kids and he was thrilled to teach her. Sigh. Life is wild.
“Keeping his partner, his son and the legion of friends he had in my thoughts and prayers. Today we’re going to throw in some Grateful Dead and celebrate you, my friend. I love and miss you, always GG.”
Many of Mandy’s friends sent their condolences on Instagram, including Chrissy Metz and Rachel Bilson.
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