Formula 1 racing icon Lewis Hamilton recently shared a harrowing experience from his surfing adventure, revealing how he narrowly escaped drowning in a terrifying incident.
The 39-year-old racing champion recounted the ordeal, which occurred during a surfing session with American professional surfer Kelly Slater at the treacherous Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii.
Hamilton and Slater were enjoying their time riding the waves when suddenly, a colossal 20-foot-high wave emerged, transforming the serene surf into a perilous situation.
Despite Hamilton’s attempts to paddle back to safety, he found himself engulfed by the force of the massive wave, plunging him into what he described as the “kill zone.”
Detailing the heart-stopping moment on the Hot One’s YouTube talk show, Hamilton revealed how he was forced underwater to evade the onslaught of four towering waves heading his way.
Struggling beneath the surface, Hamilton watched in dismay as his surfboard snapped in half under the immense pressure of the waves.
Recalling the ordeal, Hamilton expressed, “I could hear this wave crash above me. I came back up gasping for air but the next [wave] was coming so I went back down. I nearly ran out of air. I nearly drowned.”
Despite the terrifying experience, Hamilton acknowledged the incredible skill and bravery of professional surfers, remarking, “After that, I was like, ‘ok, massive props to these surfers.’
While the incident left him shaken, Hamilton is no stranger to the waves, having taken up surfing in 2019. He initially learned to surf at Slater’s Surf Ranch in San Joaquin, California, under the guidance of the renowned pro surfer.
Hamilton’s near-drowning encounter serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable and often perilous nature of the ocean, even for seasoned athletes like himself.
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