Churning waves in wake of Hurricane Irene blamed for two deaths locally

Courtesy photo / Frederick Fernandez, 55, had a unique way teaching style with his students at New Smyrna Beach High School as shown in this undated photo on Facebook.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A popular New Smyrna Beach High School teacher died earlier today while surfing in 5- to 7-foot waves in the wake of Hurricane Irene that resulted in him tumbling head first into the ocean floor with what turned out to be a major head laceration, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said.

Frederick Fernandez, 55, of New Smyrna Beach, married with two sons and a daughter, was the first of two water-related fatalities attributed to the rough seas Saturday that also resulted in the Flagler County Beach drowning of a New Jersey man, James Palmer, also 55, whose wife performed CPR in vain.

The National Weather Service in Melbourne and officials along Florida's coastal communities had warned of high waves and dangerous rip current conditions in the wake of Hurricane Irene's passing well offshore that wreaked havoc on the sea floor from the swollen surf, though Fernandez was described as an experienced surfer.

Irene made landfall early Saturday in North Carolina and is blamed for at least five deaths there and in Virginia. As of early Sunday morning, the hurricane was bearing down on New York City.

Volusia County Beach Patrol spokeswoman Tammy Marris was not ready to call Fernandez's death rip-tide related when contacted by NSBNews.net earlier Saturday night, though she did say the towering waves were a "phenomenal" draw for surfers

Earlier reports by at least one Orlando TV station that Fernandez was standing in shallow water when he was knocked under by a wave was erroneous, she said.

"He was out past the first break with his surf board," Marris said. "From what we were told by his friends, he was an experienced surfer. He had a major laceration on his head after going over a wave head first. He could have hit it on his board and drowned or if he struck the bottom (of the sea)."

Here is a Google map of Hurricane Irene's projected path as of 5:30 a.m. Sunday, blamed for nine deaths.

For that matter, his death could have been the result of a medical situation that forced him to go under, she said, adding authorities won't know until an autopsy is completed by the Volusia Medical Examiner's Office.

The Beach Patrol responded to the scene in the 1000 block of Atlantic Avenue, between the South Jetty and the Flagler Avenue beach approach where Fernandez had been pulled from the water by friends without a pulse and not breathing before paramedics took over. He was pronounced dead at Bert Fish Medical Center shortly after noon, Marris said.

News of his death spread quickly throughout the surfing community and with high school students and faculty alike.

"It's all over Facebook -- a lot of kids are very upset," said 17-year-old Maria DiCara of Edgewater, now in her senior year, who was in his Algebra II class last year. "He was a very popular teacher. Because he was short, he would stand on things in class. He was always fast-paced, but very thorough and understood. He cared about his students and he talked to surfers after class."

She added, "It was shocking that he died, but at least he was doing something that he loved when it happened." 

Her mother, Jeanette DiCara of Edgewater, a community blogger for NSBNews.net, said it was comforting that New Smyrna Beach High School Principal Jim Tager left a phone recording shortly after the death to students letting them know that an "outstanding teacher and family man" had passed in such a tragic way.

New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer described Fernandez's death as "yet another tragic story for the city," just six days after the skeletal remains of 41-year-old Jennifer Rado were found.

New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer described Fernandez's death as "yet another tragic story for the city," just six days after the skeletal remains of 41-year-old Jennifer Rado were found.

The New Smyrna Beach wife and mother of two had been missing since mid-July. Police were led to the crime scene off Mayton Road in Oak Hill by Frances Gibson of Edgewater who was charged in her murder.

Barringer said his "heart goes out to the families and friends" of Fernandez and Rado.

Fernandez is survived by his wife, Debra and three children: sons Zale and Kino and daughter Ysa, who has been recuperating from surgery for a brain tumor, family friend Nikki Carnes Metts noted on Facebook.

More than 700 people on Facebook responded to a page made for Fernandez labeled as "Remember Mr. Fernandez."

Joshua Poulin, of the class of 2006, wrote in: Some intense love on this page. RIP Mr. Fernandez. May your soul surf the cosmos for all eternity."

Billy Leven, of the 2007 class, wrote: It's a real shame to lose one of the best teachers to ever walk the halls of NSBHS! Seemed to be able to always put a smile on everyone's face! I think everyone in the community that he touched in someway, should help his family out in anyway possible! RIP."

Shayne Thomas of the class of 2008, wrote: ‎"Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean."

The Facebook remembrance page was created by Megan Tully.

"I just wanted everyone that knew him as a teacher or fellow surfer or friend to have a way to remember him and for the community to come together to celebrate his life," the 18-year-old New Smyrna Beach resident said. "I don't know all the details about the accident and don't feel comfortable speaking about it because it isn't my place to tell about what happened to him. I'm just here for people to have a way to celebrate the person he was and show our respects to this wonderful man that was taken from us."

Elly Tomei, who graduated last year, said of Fernandez: "You were one the the most amazing teachers I have ever had. Your humor and ability to help with any situation is what made you stand out from all the rest. Thank you for everything you did for me and every student. I will be praying for you and your family. You will be so missed. 'Once a Cuda always a Cuda.' God Speed and God bless you."

NSBNews.net blogger and NSB High School student Cheyenne Drews writes about Cuda Nation's anguish over the tragic death of teacher Frederick Fernandez. Here is the link:

http://www.nsbnews.net/content/407009-cuda-nation-suffers-great-loss-teachers-sudden-passing