Tahitian Surfer Eimeo Czermak Hospitalized After Pipe Masters Wipeout
After suffering a wipeout during the Vans Pipeline Masters and subsequently being backboard by paramedics onsite, Tahiti's Eimeo Czermak has posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed with a spinal collar.
“This was probably one of the hardest and scariest moment of my life,” Czermak writes. “I don’t even remember anything of this.”
Video shows him jumping off his board at the top of a large, 8- to 10-foot wave and going head-first into the water before the wave pile drives him to the bottom. He is able to exit the water under his own power, but appears in pain while grabbing his neck.
“I don’t know if I can even talk about what happened after I left the contest so I’m gonna keep it to myself but I’m so happy and grateful to be alive and looking forward to heal,” Czermak continues. “I came so close from losing everything but I’m alive and gonna be able to walk again hopefully soon so that’s what matter.”
One of the best young surfers at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, most recently he has been one of the more vocal leaders to keep development of the controversial judging tower at the site of the 2024 Olympic surfing event in check. Czermak was in Hawaii to compete in the Pipe Masters. He was the fourth surfer the news-making heat that featured eventually winner John John Florence and his two brothers, Nathan and Ivan.
This story will be updated as more details on Czermak’s condition become available. At this time we are wishing him all the best as he fights through this injury. We can’t wait to see him standing tall in a Teahupo’o barrel again really soon.
