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Big Wave Surfer Alex Botelho Hospitalized After Terrifying Crash at Nazaré

World Surf League

A Portuguese big wave surfer is lucky to be alive after a frightening incident at one of the sport’s most dangerous locations.

Alex Botelho was competing in Tuesday’s Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge in Portugal when he wiped out and was picked up on a jet ski by his partner, Hugo Vau. As Vau attempted to outrun the wall of water behind them, a second wave hit the jet ski from the front. Botelho and Vau were thrown from the jet ski and tossed around in the surf, with Botelho face down in the water and apparently unconscious.