72-Year-Old Bobby Oldsman Dies Surfing Heavy Wave In Puerto Rico

Bobby Oldsman, 72, has died while surfing at Tres Palmas, Puerto Rico, on what witnesses described as a solid 10-12 foot swell.

According to local surfer/photographer Darren Mushcett, Oldsman was struck unconscious, either by his board or the reef, before being pulled from the water by fellow surfers. An ambulance transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Bobby has been coming down to Rincon from Massachusetts every Winter for probably the last 15 years,” says Darren. “He owned a home here, liked to surf everything from small Domes to sold Tres Palmas and was a super friendly, humble guy. He was loved by all the community.” 

Despite the Massachusetts dog tag, Bobby was known as a competent, experienced surfer when it got big. His presence in the local surf scene was a fixture, and his loss has been felt deeply by the Rincon community.

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In a photo shared by Mushcett, Oldsman can be seen sitting inside, watching a set roll through. 

As we mark his passing, we can only hope that, wherever he is, Bobby is on a set. Rest in peace.

Additional info we received post-publishing:

Greg Carson, a longtime big-wave surfer, BWRAG instructor, and the president of Rincón Water Safety (RWS), was nearby when the calls for help were heard. Carson responded immediately and attempted to reach Bobby, but by the time he did, it was sadly too late.

Rincón Water Safety (RWS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building Puerto Rico’s first comprehensive ocean safety system, since the island currently has no formal lifeguard infrastructure for open-water beaches. The team behind Tres Palmas Crew are also members of RWS.

RWS was born out of the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group (BWRAG) philosophy — a “child” of BWRAG — emphasizing preparedness, teamwork, and community-based ocean safety education. Our organization works to transform Puerto Rico’s ocean culture through prevention, training, and coordinated emergency response.

Among our upcoming milestones:

• Hosting the BWRAG Surf Responder Summit on November 1–2 at Vivo Beach Club in San Juan.
• Conducting the first-ever Jet Ski Rescue Training for Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) “Vigilantes” division from November 4–6 at Pier 6, taught by elite Hawaiian instructors Pat Chong Tim and Keaka Lyman, alongside Greg Carson, Otto Flores, Mike Vicens, and possibly Will Skudin.
• In December, RWS will inaugurate Puerto Rico’s first USLA lifeguard tower at Sandy Beach, Rincón.