Man Found With Gunshot Wound To Head Near Disney Resort

A man was found outside of Disney’s idyllic Vero Beach Resort today. Yahoo Sports reports that he was lying on a surfboard, showing no signs of movement. Lifeguards pulled him out of the water, and Fire Rescue and the Sheriff’s Office later announced that he suffered a gunshot wound to his head.

At 10 a.m., emergency dispatchers were called to the scene by lifeguards. They were told a man was taken to shore and was unresponsive. Someone alerted lifeguards that they saw him on a board, not moving. A kayaker helped bring him out of the water by pulling him to shore.

After being transported to the hospital, a gunshot wound was discovered, leading to the involvement of deputies and detectives. The investigation began shortly after as authorities went to the beach to look for clues. The man is reportedly in his 60s and is local to the area. He was not staying at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

Assistant Battalion Chief David Kiernan reported, “(He) maybe had a small gunshot wound to his mouth.” After gathering limited information about the incident, fire officials could not conclude much. No one saw the man go into the ocean or heard any shots fired.

No weapons were found, and no witnesses have been discovered. Detectives haven’t figured out where the man was when the gun was fired. Unfortunately, it seems authorities believe that the wound was self-inflicted, although their theories will not be final until the conclusion of their investigation.

As of 5 p.m. today, Thursday, September 8, the man is in critical condition at HCA Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. His name has yet to be released.

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is about 2 hours away from Walt Disney World. The vintage location is located on Florida’s scenic Atlantic Treasure Coast and is a charming escape for Guests. Disney Tips will keep you posted as new information about this tragic event comes in.