Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, Eric Geiselman nabbed a 2nd reef boomer at Pipe, swooped into a big closeout keg before wiping out and hitting his head.

After a horrific three wave hold down (possibly the only expression in surfing worse than ‘two wave hold down’), former bodyboard world champ Andre Botha realised the Floridian was in trouble, and hauled him to the surface.

Mick Fanning also joined the rescue effort (07secs on the vid) before the North Shore Lifeguards and Kalani Chapman, Brian Toth, Danny Fuller and several others all helped Evan to the beach.

Luckily, Evan regained consciousness on the beach before being taken to Queens Hospital, where he is now reported to be doing well.

“Thanks to everyone, especially Andre, he was truly Evan’s guardian angel,” says (older bro) Eric Geiselman, “Everyone responded so heroically and our family cannot thank them enough. We also must remember that the conditions were serious and this is what Mother Nature can do. The surf community needs to remember to always take a minute to consider the consequences of every wave. Today we are very blessed to still have Evan with us.”

Evan’s lucky escape serves as a reminder of why Pipeline is known as the most deadly surf spot in the world.