Big wave surfer Aaron Gold was lucky to escape with his life after wiping out on a massive third reef set wave at Cloudbreak this morning.
The Hawaiian, who recently won a WSL big wave award, took off on a set wave when he fell off and was knocked unconcious before being found floating facedown on the inside by jetski driver Uri Kurop.
According to eyewitness reports, Gold was taken to a nearby boat where his lifeless body was foaming at the mouth. It was there that fellow big wave surfer Mark Healy performed CPR on him when, after several nerve-wracking minutes, he was revived and rushed back to Tavarua Island.
Fellow surfer Benji Brand took to instagram to thank both Kurop and Healy for saving Gold’s life, adding that he will be trasfered to a hospital in Fiji for further treatment.
Gold was just one of many big wave surfers who booked last-minute flights to Fiji, after reports of a large swell heading for the famous lefts of Cloudbreak.
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.