Surfer injured at Black’s Beach improving

The condition of a Josh Buran, a 26-year-old professional surfer who was injured at Black’s Beach in La Jolla Tuesday and taken to the hospital in critical condition for treatment was much improved Thursday.

“He is in good condition,” said Lissa Ohmstede, spokeswoman for Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Good condition is defined as a victim who is conscious and whose vital signs are stable and within normal limits.

Maurice Luque, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman, said Buran was apparently hit in the chin by a surfboard while surfing on Jan. 12 in the late morning.

“He paddled back out to where other guys were surfing and they told him he wasn’t acting right and that he should go back in (to shore) but he stayed out there for over an hour,” Luque said. “A fellow surfer found him half on his surfboard and half face down in the water.”

Luque said Buran was brought to shore through high waves by other surfers who then called 911.

“Lifeguards and paramedics were there in five minutes and they administered oxygen and CPR and transported to Scripps Hospital La Jolla for treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile, surf conditions remained good and were drawing spectators and expert surfers willing to take on the big swells that arrived Wednesday.