Surfer Near Death After Giant Wave Hits Contest Spot

A California surfer's life was hanging by a thread after a monster wave wiped out several surf competitors who had gathered for a contest at California's notorious Mavericks beach. Some 30 surfers waiting in the water at the Half Moon Bay site were startled by a 25-footer. Several surfers were knocked off their boards and struggled to the surface, reports the Los Angeles Times.

A photographer on a jet ski hauled the critically injured surfer to shore when he spotted him floating in the water, not breathing. The 30-year-old man was revived by other surfers and rushed to Stanford Medical Center, where he's in a medically induced coma, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. A big-wave surf contest planned that day was scrapped at the last minute because waves apparently weren't high enough, but surfers who had gathered for the contest continued to ride the waves. To read more about the surfer's rescue, check out GrindTV here.

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