If nothing else, Mick Fanning‘s certainly going to remember 2015 for the rest of his life.
If the harrowing and utterly terrifying experience of being nearly the victim of a shark attack broadcast on live TV wasn’t enough, Fanning was again at the centre of surfing drama earlier today in Hawaii.
At the infamous Jaws break at O’ahu’s Euhaki Beach, 22-year-old American surfer Evan Geiselman took a bad wipeout on a ginormous wave – in swells that local authorities had classified as “life threatening.”
Geiselman was held underwater for a three wave set after taking the spill.
Pro-bodyboarder Andre Botha was the first to reach Geiselman, who was unconscious when he was pulled back to the surface.
Fanning, who was watching on the beach, raced along the shoreline to assist, and with the help of local lifeguards, pulled Geiselman out of the water and onto the shore.
Prayers for Evan Geiselman. Get better man Pipe is rough. ?? pic.twitter.com/IyLQtppHoj
— Cameron Parlette (@cameronparlette) December 7, 2015
prayers going out to @Evangeiselman after he wiped out today at pipeline, leaving him unconscious. #PrayForEvan pic.twitter.com/ijU9mjZZjY
— fifty shades of grey (@lukewarmdavis) December 7, 2015
Geiselman, the younger brother of fellow pro-surfer Eric Geiselman, is reportedly in a critical condition in hospital.
The swell at Jaws today was particularly treacherous, with Australian surfer Mark Matthews also needing to be hospitalised, after a bad fall from one of the break’s monster waves left him with a fractured and dislocated shoulder, as well as bruised ribs.
Evan Geiselman’s condition remains unknown at this time.
Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images.
