Australian teen surf photographer Byron Mcloughlin narrowly escaped tragedy at Teahupoo, thanks to the swift action of fellow watermen during a recent eight-foot swell. Found unconscious in the lagoon after being sucked over the falls, Mcloughlin was rescued by former tour surfer Michel Bourez and brought safely back to shore.
Returning to the lineup only to be discovered face down thirty minutes later, Mcloughlin was rescued again, this time by Santa Cruz photographer Ryan Craig and local bodyboarder Angelo Fararie. Hospitalized in Papeete, Mcloughlin expressed gratitude to his rescuers and issued a stark warning about the dangers of shooting from the water at Teahupoo.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Mcloughlin emphasized, “Teahupoo is seriously no joke and without a doubt the heaviest wave on the planet. Safety first is a must, and staying on the boats when possible could save lives.”
The incident underscored the perilous conditions at Teahupoo, prompting local surfer-diver Tehutu Wong to caution against underestimating the wave’s power. Wong’s prescient advice, posted just days earlier, resonated with Mcloughlin’s experience, advocating for safety measures that could prevent future tragedies.
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