Burning to death is the worst, there was a FDNY captain that was caught in a flashover with his crew a few years ago, one died instantly, one lived for two days, and the captain lived for a few weeks, with third degree burns over 90% of his body.
Falling off your board, and getting sucked into the undertow underneath a reef. And the waves keep coming and you can't get up. By the time you realize where the top is you are dead.
That is my biggest fear. The sad thing is it could happen to me anytime I'm on a wave.
the real count dracula used to impale people by sticking them on wooden stakes sharpened to a point at the top. the tip would go into their anus and over a period of a couple days the victims would gradually slide further and further down the pole until they finally died.