VIDEO – South African Bodyboarder Rescues Unconscious Surfer at Pipeline, Hawaii
Two-time world bodyboard champion Andre Botha, from South Africa, has been praised for his fast action in rescuing a pro surfer who was knocked unconscious during huge conditions in Hawaii. Witnesses said Evan Geiselman (22) probably owes his life to Andre after the former bodyboarding champion lifted the American surfer’s lifeless body from the surf and gave him […]
Two-time world bodyboard champion Andre Botha, from South Africa, has been praised for his fast action in rescuing a pro surfer who was knocked unconscious during huge conditions in Hawaii.
Witnesses said Evan Geiselman (22) probably owes his life to Andre after the former bodyboarding champion lifted the American surfer’s lifeless body from the surf and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation…as can be seen in the video above (or below).
The incident took place at Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore, which is famous for its massive conditions and has claimed the lives of other surfers in the past.
Andre and Evan were being filmed by Hawaiian videographer Matt Castiglione as they paddled for waves.
Evan was knocked unconscious after wiping out on a 15-foot double up, and held under by three consecutive waves before being saved by Andre. The legendary South African carried Evan to the shoreline where he was helped by lifeguards and fellow surfers.
The surfers who paddled in to help Andre included Australian Mick Fanning (who himself dodged a shark attack in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa in July this year). Mick was at the beach preparing for the Pipeline Masters – the last round in the World Surf League – which kicks off this week.
Commenters on YouTube heralded Andre (or Dre as he’s known in surf circles) for stepping up, with many saying it was fantastic to see surfers and bodyboarders united.
Photographer Matt told Riptide magazine “Evan is very lucky to be here thanks to Andre and the North Shore Lifeguards” and added that after the rescue, “Dre and the boys took a quick break…and went right back out to shake it off.”
Globe surf team manager Eric Tomlinson said in a statement that Evan is “currently in stable condition after suffering a very serious wipeout”.
According to the statement, paramedics rushed to Evan’s aid on the beach, where “after expelling copious amounts of water” he eventually regained consciousness. He was then taken by ambulance to Queens Hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery from this “near tragedy”, thanks to the “heroic efforts of everyone that came to Evan’s aid”.
Andre won the world bodyboarding champ title in 1998 and 1999. The current world champ is also South African – Jared Houston won the world bodyboarding title in November this year, the first time a South African has won since Andre’s achievements.