Kalani Chapman almost lost his life after suffering a severe wipeout at Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore, Hawaii. The local legend nearly drowned.
Chapman was competing in the 2017 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout. It was the last heat of the day, and the Pipeline was firing six-to-eight-foot bombs.
The experienced Hawaiian surfer drops in on a Second Reef bomb, waits for the double-up, gets covered, and disappears.
Where was he? Why hasn't he surfaced? Terry Ahue was on the jet ski support team. He immediately rushed to the wipeout zone.
Nathan Florence and Seth Moniz also paddled toward Chapman and rescued him by pulling the leash.
According to the early reports, Kalani might have hit the back of his head on the nose of the surfboard before losing consciousness.
"The water patrol was right there, right on him. Seth had caught the wave before Kalani's, and I was paddling back out. A little wave came through, and the lifeguard had to avoid it on the ski, but Seth was right there. He was screaming and waving his arms at me," explained Nathan Florence.
The 34-year-old had to be revived on the beach, and he was later taken to the hospital, where he is expected to make a full recovery.
Last year, Evan Geiselman almost drowned at Pipeline. Fortunately, the former world bodyboarding champion, Andre Botha, was there to pull him off the water and save his life.