Legendary surfer Dale Webster, who surfed every day for 40 years straight, dead at 76

Surfing icon Dale Webster, a California native who set the record for most consecutive days surfing, has died.

Webster, also known as the "Daily Wavester" because of the incredible feat, passed away in Rohnert Park, Calif, his family confirmed to the New York Times and other outlets. 

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No cause of death was confirmed, but Webster’s brother told the outlet that the surfer had been dealing with a decline in health in recent years. 

Webster was best known for setting the world record in February 2004 when he hit 10,407 consecutive days of surfing. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, that mark consisted of him surfing at least three waves to shore every day. 

In an interview with SURFER in 2015, Webster told the magazine that the idea for surfing came about from a friend after he had already been on the board every day for more than two months. 

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"There was a solid south swell in September, and I surfed every day during the swell," Webster said at the time. "Each day the waves got better and better. After surfing 85 days straight, my friend said, ‘You should try to surf for 100 consecutive days.’ When I got to 100, the story was in the local newspaper. That publicity gave me a little pat on the back to make it to a year. So then the challenge became a year. And so forth."

Webster began his journey on Sept. 3, 1975, in Bodega Bay, California. By the time he finished, he had surfed 14,642 days consecutively before having to break the record because of a minor medical procedure. That time totaled over 40 years of consecutive surfing. 

"He was a surfer, that was his main thing, that was his life ambition. I don’t think he ever second guessed it," William Beal, a close friend of Webster’s, told the SFGate following the news of his passing. "I know he had a lot of good years here when it was not that crowded. I think he had a pretty well-lived life."

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Beach visitors risk 'arrest' for swimming without lifeguard following tragic incident

Following a dramatic rescue earlier this week in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, local officials are announcing they will be strictly enforcing after-hours beach time. 

Six individuals were caught in a rip current at Webster Avenue Beach about 100 yards offshore, according to the Jersey Shore Fire Response. (See the video at the top of this article.)  

The beach did not have lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident. 

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The Seaside Heights Fire Department deployed a rescuer with a jet ski, successfully bringing the victims back to shore while a seventh person was taken to the hospital and tragically pronounced dead.

Mayor Anthony Vaz clarified to Fox News Digital that they will not be closing the beaches — but the ocean. 

"Our focus is the ocean. We don't want anybody in the ocean," said Vaz.

The beach will continue to be closed between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the possibility of an even earlier time period if the water is deemed too dangerous.

Seaside Heights will be adding more law enforcement to enforce the rule, it also said.

"They’ll be there the rest of the season, chasing people out of the water at five o’clock," said Vaz.

"If [people] refuse to get out, we’ll [give them a summons]. And if they get really arrogant — I hope not — they’ll be arrested," he said. 

Other beaches across the country have been implementing similar plans due to safety concerns. 

In December, Virginia Beach officials ruled that lifeguards would remain on their stands longer, extending through the second weekend of September, following three deaths last fall, according to local outlet 13 News Now.

In Escambia County, Florida, beach rules indicate there should be no swimming or wading in the Gulf of America during double red flag conditions.

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The rule states that violators could be punished with a fine of under $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail (not to exceed 60 days) or both, according to its government site.

It also states that any person rescued in the Gulf of America will be banned from returning for 24 hours.

There were 49 rip current deaths so far this year as of Monday and that number now stands at 52, according to the National Weather Service

Tom Gill, United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) vice president, told Fox News Digital that it's important for visitors to "only swim when lifeguards are on duty."

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"One reason beaches set swimming hours is to provide specific times when swimmers will be protected by lifeguards on duty," said Gill.

"The USLA has determined the chance of a fatal drowning on a guarded beach is 1 in 18 million," he said. 

"Besides the safety aspect, the cost and resources required to initiate a full drowning response after hours also factor into the decision-making."

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