Dangerous Wipeout - Near Death Experience caught on camera

An unexpected complication after a wipeout left me clinging to life as I suffered internal organ damage, internal bleeding and more. This video captures the near death experience, the rescue and the aftermath from start to finish. This was a near death experience which, if it weren't for the one other person out at this reef with me on this day -- could have taken my life.
Thank you to IG: @mat_cheshire for rescuing me. And thanks to all you folks out there who look out for each other in the line up, friends and strangers, lids and stand ups alike. Can't underestimate the ocean and you never know what could happen. Lesson well learned on this day.
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Bodyboarding / surfing waves on reefs, in remote locations around Australia and Bali. I love both novelty and big waves! With everything that's going on in the world right now, there's nothing like getting into some waves and surf to take us away from it all. Self-isolation in some deep barrels is a valid way of social distancing!
I love exploring new waves in new locations and I love bring my viewers along my journey. Sometimes it get's sketchy as some of the waves I surf (shallow reefs, dry reefs, deep ocean slabs) get pretty gnarly. If this kind of content sounds interesting to you -- please drop a like on the video and subscribe so you are among the first to see my new vids!
#GoPro #Bodyboarding #Surfing #Waves

[@jpwarner6232]

The same thing happened to me but I landed on my surfboard and it hit me in the head. I was instantly knocked unconscious and had to be rescued (obviously lol). After being taken to the hospital by an ambulance (which I have no recollection of), the doctors told me that my amygdala had been damaged (amygdala deals w emotions, decision making, and such). So now almost 4 years later, after going through intense therapy and 3 surgeries, I'm basically a different person, or at least it feels like it lmao. My behavior is completely different from before. I used to be a trouble-maker and a bit of a spaz, but now, I'm super nerdy and for some reason cannot stop trying to learn new things. but hey, I'm not complaining lol, it's a nice change from being an idiot, other than the brain damage stuff, that kinda blows

[@WillyPOV1]

That's an incredible story. Glad you're okay and so intriguing that the injury flipped your personality! Pretty cool, if you don't mind me saying

[@iankearns9671]

that happened to me this morning lol. didn't get knocked out though just a concussion

[@jpwarner6232]

Willy POV nah I don’t mind, ur right lol. Looking back at it, the whole situation is actually kinda funny

[@samobrien4769]

That’s crazy, like the phineas gage case study when a guy had a pole go through his frontal lobe and survived. The frontal lobe is responsible for analysing, problem solving, personality, behaviour and more and he completely changed also. The brain is crazy!

[@oliewray8357]

Nice lie

[@bing6784]

Love that you’re posting content but I’m sorry you had to go through that pain

[@everythingfishos6608]

Can we get an interview with that awesome guy

[@joswright7604]

Get well soon willy! Hope for a quick recovery 🙌🏽🤙🏽

[@movementinnovation]

That sucks mate, get well. After all that pain, the real question is. Did the cameraman get the shot of you pitted? 📸 It might make recovery easier if you’ve got a sick photo to share about the experience.

[@furbyflubby]

Duuude holy hold-down!! I took a face slam into the sand and was feeling scared for myself but jeeez. Such a reminder of how fragile we are. Heal but buddy and keep stoking!! Rest, relax.

[@lucashenriquezdivin5522]

Get well Willy! That was a really unlucky accident

[@secretguyoz2]

Ozzies always have each other's backs!! Nice rescue..

[@shaneberger4339]

Holy crap Willy, i hope you recover fast and well. I had an acident in the water a couple months ago, bailed and my surfboard hit me straight in the eye socket. Had to be rescued too. We really need to look after each other. Im really shocked by your accident and so glad there was someone there, unlike the other times you have surfed this spot alone. Take care dude, once you get better come over west and take on some west oz slabs with me! Speedy recovery dude

[@shawn.bourke.3]

I remember this happening to a surfer in about 2005 while surfing cracky; the nose went into his side and he walked all the way back to bateau car park holding intestines. I thought you were being over dramatic until you listed your injuries, which if true, is pretty legit. Good to hear you're safe. It's long hold downs that scare me, the ones that leave you feeling physically weak and you've got to call it a day

[@Alesxandros]

Holy sh...

[@BenBuchanan]

Ouch man, I didn’t even know you were in pain when I saw you on the trail. Get well soon!

[@WillyPOV1]

It was a long walk back...! Hope you guys had some fun out there

[@BenBuchanan]

Willy POV a bit wind stricken by the time we got there, man hopefully you’re back on the board soon, that sucks

[@matthewbeasey4867]

So good you post every situation!! Things can go wrong very easily

[@subpop74]

This is just going to add to your resolve and make you a better surfer Willy. Cheers dude

[@patricksarell4781]

Hey man thanks for sharing this - glad you weren’t out on your own. Great reminder for us all to always have a surfing buddy or out near a group of other people.

[@goudahn]

Happy to know you're okay man... Speedy recovery

[@ConnerSatterthwaite]

So sorry for the ribs man. That’ll take a while to heal! And even worse, ur missing one of the best days!

[@Alesxandros]

God bless the camera man, good guy. I surf with my bboard in italy, while surfing in a beachbreak (shorebreak) i was slapped in the sand with my back, all the air in my lungs expired immediately and for some reason a leg got a cramp, i was in a similar situation. The waves were like 1 metres (usual size here) more or less but i was destroyed. Speed recovery

[@dealinoutdevon5498]

Always sucks when you have a close call. I got caught between a doubled up lip when doing an invert about 13 years ago and came down on the back of my head on a rock and broke 2 upper and 2 lower discs is my back. I only bought a new board and got back in the water 2 months ago and I’m loving discovering the sport I once loved all over again.

[@willlebeau9934]

Your a legend willy!!! stoked to have you still here with us!!!! KZbin woudnt be the same

[@daviddntait]

Glad you're still with us man. That could have went south real quick! Take care Willy with Aloha from Hawaii

[@captaincaramello1137]

Remember saving me at indies when i broke my ribs!!! This is good karma someone was there. Rest up glad to hear you survived

[@CalisthenicsWork]

Glad you’re on the mend. A stark reminder to all of us who choose to go out alone sometimes

[@kikaidaboy]

Thank you for showing the documentation of that. Can happen any time, to anyone. All the best on your recovery.

[@cornrowd]

Holy shit Willy...you did some damage....I’ve broken ribs and come down on the edge of the board and initiated a hiatal hernia but not all at the same time...so glad someone was there to help....Luv ya man take care....the Drifter aka Danimal

[@WillyPOV1]

Thank you sir -- next time we run into each other we can share war stories with each other while at the Plumbers Arms while eating a side of ribs. How's that sound

[@taidriscoll1580]

get better soon and stay healthy. we believe in you

[@billvivers]

Man I’m glad you’re OK and I’m happy you weren’t out solo. I have not had my board hit me in the solar plexus but I have been boogie surfing and had the board rocket out of the water after burying the nose and hit me in my Adams apple which was pretty interesting to say the least. I have broke my nose on my kneecap DKing in a bowl, and had a couple of lonnnng hold downs. I have broken ribs snowboarding and that was no fun and some pretty good pain

[@Sekarii]

I wish you a speedy recovery Willy and we are all glad you are here with us today. Maybe post some update videos every week or so, or whenever you have time???

[@joaoamaral940]

Get well soon Willy, big hug from Portugal

[@evannramirez286]

I almost broke my back today (shore break) and I had to leave the beach and walk to my house

[@jettkaines7447]

so glad that you're ok, stay safe and be careful out there! so sorry you had to go through that. LOVE YOU WILLY!!

[@dancingbeanner21]

Willy I wish you a speedy recovery, your angels are definitely looking out for you. Count your blessings and take life 1 day at a time. Make sure to love your family and community every day. 🤙

[@xskillzdatki11x]

Damn dude I’m glad you’re ok. I live in FL and had a similar fall from a hurricane swell one year. Did a scorpion on the ocean floor

[@NickBukey]

No way!!!!!! So glad you're ok Willy

[@NickBukey]

By ok I mean not dead. Still pretty serious though!

[@pattyweathers1337]

Good on U for uploading the clip. Get well soon and have a speedy recovery

[@meaboy21]

That basically happened too me today in Hawaii king tides rolling in I dropped in late on like a 8 ft wave and got picked up and slammed onto my back and I couldn’t move or breathe for a while but i was happy I came out safely.

[@lukegilbert5357]

Man thats crazy stuff Willy! Wishing you a speedy recovery champ!

[@roguevoid4946]

Holy shit willy please get well soon, I'm glad that guy was there

[@mbarhooning6149]

So glad ur alive

[@tylermartinez9409]

bro , I know how that shit feels, I went bodyboarding one day at this river mouth and the water is about waist high, it was bombing that day and I went a little to high on the wave, and the lip launches me forwards and my board gets lodged into the sand and, I just crash right on my board driving it into my chest/stomach area and immediately started to try and catch a breath

[@kaizola7567]

Stay safe hope you get well soon. Love seeing videos from u.

[@sploob.]

That was intense to watch! I really hope u get better man and this doesnt make u stop Bodyboarding cos so many people looove watching u😥 Much respect to that camera man✊

[@msp3078]

Ouch bro get well broken ribs hurt like hell can’t imagine a ruptured liver get some rest brotha be safe

[@mathewjon9329]

Get well soon dude. It is a tricky wave to get right at the best of times

[@ethanboulos854]

thank god your still alive, sending my prayers

[@bassplay12]

Glad you're okay Willy!!! Glad it wasn't one of those times you went out alone...

[@metalshallrise]

You’re getting better at this but mother ocean will find ways to humble you, get well soon buddy

[@OceanMadness]

DAMN BRO! Glad your ok

[@bicyclingbum1551]

Hey willy hope your doing okay and I know this can happen to any one at any time but you should try and focus more on board control and feeling how waves break on a small shore break, even charging 3 feet barrels on the sand will help you feel what way your going to wipe out and how avoid getting hurt when pulling into a barrel, how to use your rail and a host of other things with out huge risk, stay safe !!

[@rileyeldridge]

Hope you get well soon willy and I wish the best for you

[@philippepunu8352]

It's part of the journey man, everyone I mean surf rider or boogie rider will go through this type of situation.

[@jayallanhorne]

Big up camera man 👍👌get well soon Willy

[@willday2876]

noooo!!! i love your videos willy i wish you could still be out there right now! get better soon bro! keep on going at it!

[@kamakazitv574]

Heal up willy . You and my gopromax are down birds!!! Heal up. Took out the gopromax on 5ft swell shorebrwak day here in maui, I chanced it and used no waterproof casing. Gopromax died in 20minutes. My wife who is a nurse just mailed it out today. Heal up and get back out there 🙏 and let

[@colbygardner6446]

In South Africa the shore break is big and I got sucked over the lip and the bodyboard turned on it’s rail and the lip pushed me onto the other rail and like bent my whole body. love the content keep it up. Im 11 yrs old and a good bodyboarder I have won about 20 compos against 18 yr old people

[@nigelbarrett3602]

Get well soon Willy and keep safe.

[@WillyPOV1]

Thank you ♥️🙏

[@SpaceDoee]

Damn Willy so sorry this happened to you, wishing you a speedy recovery 🤘🏻

[@iceman24life]

F'n scary bro. Things are good till they're not. Glad you ok!

[@maxdaniels4326]

Glad ur all good buddy, thank god for that guy helping u out 👍

[@drhambone1598]

Glad you're ok Willy That's why I never surf alone

[@angusmawson9183]

hope your all good speedy recovery willy

[@cuanoflynn9895]

that sounds more painful than I can imagine

[@TheBabstahiti]

I wish you a good recovery 👌👍

[@goofsaddggkle7351]

It's amazing how a 20-30 second hold down in the surf can feel like an eternity.

[@maxxim3413]

Speedy recovery Willy

[@GiuseppeGaribaldi46664]

Nasty Willy. Difficult to watch recalling a similar situation every single surfer has been in. On the other hand, I'm still in long-term lockdown so if it's possible, would love to squeeze in another little live workout, if you've recovered. Im quite sure i speak on behalf of most of the community

[@guitarpicker1393]

Heavy bro... it's the little things that get you ey. Ditched my board and jumped through a solid shore break barrel once as I came through the back my board slinshotted through the back of the wave and my coil leash acted like a slingshot and it cracked me straight in the jaw , knocked me out cold .. lucky another guy saw it and helped me to shore or I probably would have drown that day.. that's why pays to never surf alone of you can avoid it.

[@omo8566]

Holy crap get well my guy

[@r1bayside276]

You got winded. Wait till you tackle big surf.

[@true_duke5381]

My surfboard hit me in the head and now I have two scars on my head from the fins

[@ignaciogc1916]

Woaah im pretty sure that barrel looked amazing from the camera-man perspective... Worth it? Lol

[@enor1sdca]

oh man I hope you recover soon..

[@tnut3305]

Heavy situation. Hope for a full recovery👌🏻.

[@caseypotts2580]

So glad u are ok 👍

[@Hoonbernator1590]

Rest up mate!

[@cristianvargas8773]

Stay safe m8 hope you get better

[@kaidenatchinson3793]

One day I was on the beach and for some reason my kook side came out and I put my board above the lip of the wave and it just slammed me and also did anyone else get freaked out by the music cause I can’t be the only one and I am home alone.

[@lmfunky9767]

Bloody hell that video was pretty full on. Hope you’re doing ok now.

[@danieldouglas9156]

Holy shit willy that's hectic. Get well soon brother x

[@maximum_rebel2985]

Stay safe bro we love you buddy

[@robbiedale9641]

That looked like it was shaping up to a good ride . Stay safe always surf with a mate or others . Very lucky mate

[@brauliodeans9437]

Once was having some fun in some backwashing shore break. I was usually riding the white water out into the ocean but on one larger set (only about 6 foot) I decided to ride it in. That was a horrible mistake as when the back wash hit me instead of flying straight up and landing back on the wave I flew forwards and landed chest first onto the sand. Right when I hit the hard wet sand the shore break wave I had just taken rammed me from behind. At this point I could barely move and my bodyboard was dragging me around by my leash. I was struggling to breath as the wind had been knocked out of me. I somehow had the sense to undo my leash from my arm and let another wave wash me up the beach a little. I crawled up the beach until I could finally breath without struggling a ton. As I began to stand up I felt overwhelming nauseous and I threw up immediately. However once this happened I immediately felt 5 times better and so and fear of long term damage left me. I rested for only about 3 minutes before going back out but I took it slow after. I’ve been lucky to have never had a terrible accident and I’ve never have broken a bone. I’ve been a lot worse situations than the one I described and have gotten out with only minor injuries. I’m glad you made it out and had someone there to help you out. Best of luck and hope you get better soon Willy. Sending love from California.

[@Sswervyy]

fuckin hell, its like a punch straight to your stomach.

[@Slowrex123]

Wow 😮 😮😮 hope you get well soon

[@charlbester3709]

Legend hope you get well keep on you're great content

[@aidanbau]

I remember last time I had a good wave, then I aimed my boogie board wrong and I got nailed in the chest by it. But that's no where near what you suffered here, I hope you're doing good now.

[@adzoutnabout8666]

That was serious mate, now imagine bigger sets and you were all alone. Dont put yourself in that situation please. Thats the reason i stick to semi crowded beach breaks as i get older. Another trophy to add to your bodyboarding injury cabinet 😕

[@jeffcooldude3530]

Hope you were ok willy!

[@solar4799]

That's unlucky man hope You get well soon charger ✌️

[@bigmantim4660]

Good luck, and take this time to reflect

[@hunterbarker3246]

Could never live without you willy

[@tarhairline2569]

Damn that looks scary

[@twpprojects9102]

Got to pay to play. Brother hope you get well all the best

[@calebcreswick5151]

Unlucky Willy you’ll be back before you know it ❤️

[@bentorres7895]

U gotta get back out there be strong Willy

[@MrMagnat007]

I bet you wont be surfing a reef alone again will you.. We want Willy Blogs as you go through your Journey to repair !

[@matiasmoloney8584]

the same thing happened to me on a similar reef ut not as bad.Get well soon

[@tobyduhigg7182]

This is me after touching my fin on my surfboard 🏄

[@ryanuphill6670]

What reef is this

[@Tigas-sp9wn]

i hope u get better fast

[@cuanoflynn9895]

nooooooo willy get well soon