Kirk Passmore was seen surfing off Oahu’s North Shore on Wednesday when he reportedly wiped out on a 20-foot wave, and has been missing ever since. Passmore is an experienced surfer, but witnesses told KHNL that he was knocked off his board and then pounded by another wave. “He was seen swimming down with his feet up above the surface, and we think he broke his eardrum because what happens when you break your eardrum is you have complete loss of balance and you have vertigo,” Jamie Sterling told KHNL. Other fellow surfers commented that Passmore probably should have taken extra precaution given the high-surf warning. “See, what would have saved him is if he had a float vest on. Everybody wears float vests nowadays,” said Chris Owens.
“Some of the best big-wave guys in the world are out there today and they all had their flotation vests and stuff. I guess it just goes to show that it can happen to anyone at any time,” added Jamie Mitchell.
The search team, which includes Coast Guard crews, lifeguards, the Honolulu Fire Department and other surfers, looked for Passmore all day on Wednesday and Thursday, but have no luck yet.
