Injuries caused to others by recreational surfers in Australia

The risks of injury to surfers themselves are well-documented, injuries caused by surfers to others remain under-researched. This study addresses this gap by examining self-reported incidents of such injuries among Australian surfers.

To explore the nature, context and contributing factors of injuries caused by recreational surfers to others, using qualitative data from the Global Surfer Survey (GSS).

A qualitative content analysis was conducted on free-text responses from Australian participants in the GSS who reported having caused injury to another person while surfing. Responses were coded inductively to identify recurring themes related to incident circumstances, injury types and emotional reflections.

Of 815 Australian respondents, 93 (11.4%) reported having injured someone else while surfing. Thematic analysis revealed six dominant themes around the circumstances of the injury, and the nature and consequences of the injury. These included collisions due to crowding or visibility issues, deliberate or retaliatory incidents, fin-related lacerations, head injuries and concussions, board impact injuries and emotional and ethical reflections. Most injuries were accidental, though a minority (5%) involved intentional actions linked to surf etiquette breaches.

Injuries caused by surfers to others often occur in crowded or high-energy surf zones. These findings highlight the need for enhanced surf safety education, including modules on spatial awareness, etiquette and injury prevention. Improved injury reporting and coastal management strategies may also help mitigate risks in increasingly crowded surf environments.