Big wave surfing event marred by serious accident

Video Credit: Reuters - Sports
Published on February 12, 2020 - Duration: 02:22s

Big wave surfing event marred by serious accident

Surfer Alex Botelho is taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious during a big wave event in Nazare.


Big wave surfing event marred by serious accident

SHOWS: NAZARE, PORTUGAL (FEBRUARY 11, 2020) (WSL - SEE RESTRICTIONS ABOVE) 1.

PORTUGUESE SURFER ALEX BOTELHO IS CAUGHT IN BETWEEN CRASHING WAVES 2.

BOTELHO IS RESCUED FOLLOWING INCIDENT 3.

PEOPLE WATCHING RESCUE 4.

AERIAL SHOT OF RESCUE 5.

VARIOUS SPECTATORS 6.

UNIDENTIFIED CONTESTANT AND JET SKI DURING COMPETITION 7.

LENGTHY RUN OF GERMAN COMPETITOR SEBASTIAN STEUDTNER OF GERMANY 8.

RUN OF HAWAII'S KAUI LENNY WHO WOULD GO ON TO WIN MEN'S WAVE OF THE DAY 9.

JUSTINE DUPONT OF FRANCE WHO WON WOMEN'S WAVE OF THE DAY 10.

KAI LENNY (ON RIGHT) WITH TEAMMATE LUCAS CHIANCA OF BRAZIL STORY: Big wave surfer Alex Botelho of Portugal was involved in a serious accident during the Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge in Portugal on Tuesday (February 11).

Botelho was being towed back to shore on the back of a jetski but was caught amid colliding waves, which flipped the jetski high into the air.

He was washed into shore unconscious where dozens of rescue staff rushed to his aid.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

He is reported to be in a stable condition.

Nazarรฉ has proved very dangerous in past years and as a result, the World Surf League (WSL) organisers decided to stop running a paddle event there.

The new format allows for competitors to be towed to the start with the help of a Jet-Ski.

Hawaii's Kai Lenny claimed the men's wave of the day, while France's Justine Dupont captured the women's title.

Lenny and teammate Lucas Chianca of Brazil won the team competition.

Tuesday's event featured ten teams comprised of two athletes, alternating between surfing and driving the team's ski.

Each team competed twice in hour-long heats with a priority system to ensure all riders were able to catch sizable waves.

Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge Teams: Team World: Sebastian Steudtner (DEU) & Maya Gabeira (BRA) Team Brazil: Rodrigo Koxa (BRA) & Pedro Scooby (BRA) Team Great Britain: Andrew Cotton (GBR) & Tom Butler (GBR) Team Australia: Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS) & Mick Corbett (AUS) Team Portugal: Alex Botelho (PRT) & Hugo Vau (PRT) Team Young Bulls: Lucas Chianca (BRA) & Kai Lenny (HAW) Team Europe: Nic von Rupp (PRT) & Francisco Porcella (ITA) Team France: Benjamin Sanchis (FRA) & Eric Rebiere (FRA) Team Atlantic: Grant Baker (ZAF) & Antonio Silva (PRT) Team Justine: Justine Dupont (FRA) surfer only/Fred David driver only (Production: Peter Bullock)

You are here

Related videos from verified sources

Terrifying accident overshadows surfing tournament 00:47
Video credit: Reuters Studio - Published on February 12, 2020 

You might like