Superhero Surfer Unmasked!

Last weekend a mystery surfer saved the life of Brian Jordan, who was struggling in the water 100 yards off the shore of Coney Island. The story surfaced with a photo on the cover of the Daily News late last week (a surefire way to crack the case) and lo and behold, the mystery man has been unmasked...or rather, outed by his family. Turns out the hero is humble, and just a bit shy of the spotlight.

Kevin Campion, a 30-year-old ship's captain from Seattle, doesn't mind if his lifesaving deed goes unrewarded.

"He's a great guy and it's an amazing thing he did and actually I'm not surprised that he would do it," said Kenn Christianson, the brother of Campion's stepmother, Sonya Campion. "He's just not sure he wants the attention to be on him."

"He told his sister that several people had spotted the man in trouble, but no one wanted to go in," Campion's mother wrote in an e-mail. "The conditions were very rough, and Kevin knew he would have [a] long ways to go to get the man to shore."

The Daily News dug up more tidbits on the surfing superhero; he's a professional sailing captain, a biologist, he's studied poisonous frogs in Central America, surfed the world, saved numerous other folk from a watery grave, and, yes, he's single (and on MySpace). The Seattleite was making his way from Florida to Maine when he briefly, and serendipitously, stopped over in New York. Jordan, who is now recovering, says at the very least he'll email Campion his thanks.

Photo of Kevin Campion via the Daily News.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on May 25, 2008 2:40 PM

Comments [rss]

FromtheFuture

He's not from Seattle- He's from MAINE! Represent!

Anna_Merkin

He's probably got a 5-inch cawk. Just kidding. Sort of.

He's going to get more butt than ashtrays.

sonyactivision

Oooooohhhh! Kojak's jealous because she's not as pretttyyy!

Kojak

Having a John Travolta style butthole-chin doesn't make him cute.

TheKlaus

He did what any normal human should have. Fuck his looks. Is that all that matters to you vain glorious sissy boyz?

sonyactivision

He needs to quit saving people and get on with the business of studying amphibious frogs. What does he think we're paying him for?

Karen

What did I start here? Kevin, if you read this, sorry!

Not really.

You're still cute. And nice. And smart. So...do you hang out 100 yards off Coney all the time, or would you like to hang out in Ft Wayne?

yomama

DAMN.... Pretty Hot! Smart and humble too? Sign me up!

jenspellnogood

3 words; witness protection program.

sbl

Ooh, what a cutie... I wish guys in NYC looked like this!!!! And soooo sweet! I'm moving out to the west coast now!

yep_its_true

of course he's from Seattle, they don't make them that cute in nyc.

just saying

#8 - sour grapes

Splicer

This won't end well. There's probably a reason he wanted to remain anonymous and now he's totally screwed.

matty

"I'd like to hate this guy; but just can't."

haha. Me too. This guy is just plain better than me.

zstone

I was straight before I read this post.

Jen S

Hot damn!

Dave Hogarty

"I'm a young sun-bronzed ship's captain with a dimpled prominent chin. In my spare time I like to be handsome, surf, and rescue complete strangers from certain death. I'm single also. I've got some sweet tattoos, and am humble about my heroics. My job as a handsome scientist is looking after endangered amphibious creatures."

I'd like to hate this guy; but just can't.