Facing Death: Big Wave Surfer Battling Monster Waves at Nazare

The surfing community has been split after surfer Alex Botelho was hammered by monster surf at a notorious big wave location.

Portuguese star Botelho caught the rough end of the whitewash overnight at Nazaré, which is known as “Portugal’s most dangerous wave”.

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Botelho was being towed back to shore on the back of a jetski but found himself in the worst possible spot at the crest of two colliding waves, which flipped the vehicle high into the air.

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

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

WARNING: VISION MAY DISTRESS

World Surf League said he was stable and conscious.

It is the first time the event has been run as part of the World Surf League’s Big Wave world tour.The incident has been met with criticism among some in the surfing community who have taken aim at the World Surf League for how it was handled.

The WSL has been accused of ignoring Botelho’s crash during the live broadcast, while its decision to provide an update on social media after making an edited video has also been criticised.

An editorial from Carve Surfing Magazinge asked: “Do we have to watch someone die before a line is drawn?”, it asked.

Facing Death: Big Wave Surfer Battling Monster Waves at Nazare

“Today’s events with Alex Botelho just sealed the deal. Pretty distressing scenes on the beach were sent out live. It was compounded by the lack of information on the WSL live broadcast and the decision to ignore or censor what was going on.

“Do we have to watch someone die? Do we need a fresh look at these comps?”

Meanwhile, USA Today’s Hemal Jhaveri shared online the WSL’s announcement of the crash, writing: “Uh, did WSL hold off on providing an update on Alex Botelho’s accident until they could cut together a video?! wtf.

“There also looks to be drone footage of Botelho floating unconscious in the water. Man, this is messed up.

“Accident happened about two or three hours ago, and WSL simply tweeted out that the contest was wrapping up. About an hour ago, they tweeted that an update on Botelho was coming. And then: the full multi-media package for maximum shareability.”

Big wave surfer Carlos Burle, however, said Botelho’s crash was part of the job.

“Today during the WSL Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge, Portuguese surfer Alex Botelho suffered a serious accident, being surprised by a wave and hit in the head by his duo’s jet ski,” he said.

“Very sad about what happened at a very high level event, very well organised, and especially for a professional companion to go through it. As big riders, we are subject to this type of accident, but we have a first class safety apparatuses in Nazaré.

With news.com