A kitesurfer had to be airlifted off the Island after losing control of his board and crashing into the rocks at Somerset Long Bay Beach.

The 35-year-old Paget man, from Vancouver, Canada, suffered hand, leg and serious head injuries on Saturday afternoon around 3.30 p.m.

He was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was listed as "in critical condition". He was later airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital.

A woman who was one of the first on the scene said she didn't see the man hit the rocks, but saw people running to his rescue moments later.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she saw some white lines in the ocean, but no kite in the area. Then she noticed the man's head being lifted out of the water.

"I went down there and was calling to my boyfriend to call 911 but there was a lady that had a phone and was calling for help."

She saw that the man's knee and elbow were injured and said he was suffering from severe head trauma.

"We saw a lot of blood in the water so we were searching his legs just taking a look (at his injuries) while he was still in the water.

"We brought him out and that is when we saw he had a large cut in the inside of his head."

Government issued a warning to all residents this weekend to avoid maritime recreational activities until Hurricane Danielle had passed.

A Government spokeswoman, in a statement issued at midday on Saturday, said: "The Emergency Measures Organisation is reminding residents to avoid participating in activities such as boating and swimming until the weather system has passed, pointing out that over the next few hours, despite the sunny conditions, surf, swell and waves, may pose a hazard to beach goers and mariners."

However, the witness told The Royal Gazette the accident had "nothing to do with the storm" and suggested the man's kite strings may have gotten tangled or broke.

"It was one of those accidents that could happen to anyone. This is just like any sport you take risks and you are trying to enjoy the outdoors. You know hiking can turn very dangerous in the same way that this can. I think in kitesurfing you have to be very aware of your surroundings."

According to another kitesurfer who knew the victim for five years, he was at an intermediate level and a regular in the "tight knit" surfing community.

The man said: "I know him from church. We go to First Baptist Church together. He is a great guy, very, very nice and friendly. Just a genuinely really good guy."

He said the man worked in Information Technology and was engaged to be married.

The Bermuda Police Service issued the following statement yesterday: "At 3:29 p.m. Saturday Police responded to a marine incident that took place at Somerset Long Bay Beach in Sandys.

"It appears that a 35 year old Paget man (contract worker) was kite surfing on the shoreline around Somerset Long Bay when he apparently lost control of his kiteboard and was dragged onto the rocks resulting in the Paget man suffering hand, leg and severe head injuries.

"The man was taken to KEMH were he was listed in critical condition. The most recent information states the 35-year-old Paget man has been airlifted off of the Island for critical care."

Police are asking for any witnesses to the incident to contact Somerset Police Station on 234-1010.