Posted 5/21/24

A Columbia State Community College professor has died after being hit by a rogue wave in Brazil.

According to the community college, the professor and three students were walking on an oceanside road and stopped to take photographs when a wave hit them.

The three students are safe and were not seriously injured when the wave struck, but the professor's body was found Monday. Search and rescue operations by Brazilian authorities were launched immediately and discovered the body

Columbia State said the name of the professor is Clifford Gordon.

The search for the missing professor continued until the body was found, According to the Tennessee Board of Regents, Brazilian search crews are used boats, jet-skis, drones, and helicopters to locate the missing professor.

School officials said students and a program director boarded a flight yesterday, May 20th to return to Tennessee.

No additional details were immediately released.