A kite surfer lost control and flew into the side of a building in Fort Lauderdale before noon on Wednesday.
Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said the department got a call around 10 a.m. of the incident, which took place near Northeast 27th Street and North Ocean Boulevard.

Gollan said the man took off from the beach and was blown into the building by the winds before falling to the ground.

Officials have not released the man’s identity at this time, but friends identified the victim as Fred Salter, an experienced and passionate kite surfer.

“He was very experienced kiter and he knew what he was doing,” Haley Lavallee, who knew the victim said. “I’m just so sad.”

The man suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Gallon, and was rushed as a trauma alert to Broward Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officials have not released the man’s identity at this time, but friends identified the victim as Fred Salter, an experienced and passionate kite surfer.