Bede Durbidge has fractured his pelvis after suffering a horrific wipeout at Banzai Pipeline, in Hawaii.
The Australian surfer was competing in his Round 3 heat against Keanu Asing, when he took off on a bomb, went over the falls, and hit the shallow reef below. Durbidge was immediately rescued from the water by the jet ski safety team.
Bede was taken to the hospital, and doctors confirmed he had fractured his pelvis in two places: front and back. The 32-year-old surfer from Queensland will likely be out of the water for a while.
"Definitely wasn't the way I wanted to finish the season. I ended up fracturing my pelvis and displacing it. I'm going under the knife in a few hours to get plates put in the front and back," wrote Durbidge.
"Thanks to the water patrol and doctors at the event for taking care of me. Also my wife, family and friends for all the support and love. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."
Kieren Perrow, the World Surf League commissioner, noted that what happened "it's something that you never want to see on a day like today, but we all know it's a possibility of happening.