Surfer 'rode Samoa tsunami' to escape death (barely passed the Darwin Test)

Perth Now ^ | 10/02/09 | CLIO FRANCIS

[TigerLikesRooster]

Surfer 'rode Samoa tsunami' to escape death

October 02, 2009 11:00am

A SURFER escaped death in the Pacific tsunami by riding out the giant waves that surged over the Pacific Island.

New Zealand student Chris Nel was surfing on the south coast of Savai'i island when the 8.3 magnitude quake struck on Wednesday morning, The Dominion Post newspaper reported.

He had been in the water with four other New Zealand surfers and an Australian when the tsunami appeared.

Meanwhile, Samoan disaster officials said they fear up to 150 people may have died in a massive tsunami that pounded the Pacific nation, a toll that would bring the number of dead in the region to nearly 190.

While only 110 people are officially confirmed dead following Tuesday's disaster, Samoan officials believe that more have perished as bodies were still being recovered and some dead were buried before they could be counted.

[TigerLikesRooster]

The guy almost got Darwin Award.:-)

[NonValueAdded]

reminds me of that scene in “Lucifer’s Hammer” ... I believe it was a skyscraper that ended that surf ride of a lifetime.

[thecabal]

[SIDENET]

He left Samoa yesterday, flying back to Wellington wearing a pair of jeans he had found in the jungle.

Definite cool points.

[Danae]

I think one can safely say that he has his street creds as a surfer now.

[TigerLikesRooster]

The guy would do a tour of all surf competitions in the world. Surfer dudes would worship him.:-)

[Liberty Valance]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWbe-NSK6Ic&feature=related
NICE SURF MUSIC

[Rockitz]

Cowabunga, dude!

[This Just In]

Did anyone catch his ride (pun intended) on tape? Any pic’s?

[Wacka]

He would wouldn’t have gotten one as he didn’t go out to surf the tsunami. He was out there surfing when it hit. Samoa was so close that the people on land had about 10 minutes to react.

[diamond6]

Maybe I read this wrong.... if he was out in the ocean and the earthquake hit suddenly and he’s caught in it, why does that make him stupid?

[Danae]

I tend to think they were a little distracted by an 8.0 Earthquake. The surfers would not have felt it, but no one on land would have been able to miss it.

[Nucluside]

That’s been discussed. He wasn’t stupid; he was cool.

[This Just In]

“I tend to think they were a little distracted by an 8.0...”

(((chuckling)))

Perhaps, but I do recall seeing images of people on the beach and in the water as the northern Sumatra tsunami hit several years ago.

I’ll believe this guys story when I see it. I’ve heard some whoppers about individuals surfing epic waves only to discover that the stories were “slightly” embellished.

[TigerLikesRooster]

In another report, he reportedly said that he felt the tremors but ignored it because it was common in New Zealand.

Unwittingly, he signed up for Darwin Award.

[Danae]

Surfers, fishermen, its all the same there.. lol

[ReneeLynn]

Okay, now this WAS an episode of Gilligan’s Island. I swear.

[This Just In]

Precisely.

“I once caught a wave and it was THIS big.”

When there’s no one around to confirm a story, heck, you could have ridden a wave as high as 100ft.

[TChad]

Sorry, I don’t see the potential Darwin Award here. The student was surfing when a tsunami hit. The ocean sucked him and a few other surfers out to sea, stranding then on the wrong side of a reef. He then managed to get back through the reef channel to safety. It sounds like he did exactly the right thing in a difficult circumstance.

[FredZarguna]

Although your world wonders me,
With your majestic and superior cackling hen
Your people I do not understand,
So to you I shall put an end
And you'll
Never hear
Surf music again ...

[TigerLikesRooster]

As I said in earlier reply, he said in another report that he sensed the tremors but ignored it because he got it all the time in New Zealand, not realizing that this time it would be a big one. That was cutting really close.

[TigerLikesRooster]

"I went out early morning for a surf, then I felt the tremor — you get them all the time in New Zealand, so I didn't really think too much of it—then I went out in the water and caught a few waves."

[dennisw]

Eddie Day - Ultimate Wave

[TChad]

Thanks for the link, but I grew up in southern California, and tremors don't bother me either.

If he had been killed, it would have been primarily due to an extraordinary event that he could not have easily foreseen, not to any extraordinary stupidity. So, no Darwin Award.

[Finalapproach29er]

Giligans Island had a surfer drop by, then he rode a tsunami to Hawaii.

Anybody remember the guys name?

[Finalapproach29er]

Ginger and MaryAnn had a crush on him, and watched him get his muscles in shape to surf a tsunami back to Hawaii.

[ResponseAbility]

****Ginger and MaryAnn had a crush on him, and watched him get his muscles in shape to surf a tsunami back to Hawaii.****

Wasn’t that the same guy that played the jungle guy character as well?

I always found that odd that they had recurring actors playing bit roles.

[Plumberman27]

Jeff Spicoli lives again. I wonder if the guy had a hall pass from Mr. Hand. Gnarly Dude

[Oztrich Boy]

The guy almost got Darwin Award.:-)

Why? is it somehow prudent policy to avoid going in the ocean because there might be a tsunami in the next few hours?

[TigerLikesRooster]

See my reply #22.

[Oztrich Boy]

And it would be safer to wait for the wave on shore?

[TigerLikesRooster]

He can pack up and leave for a while.
Between standing on the beach and going out surfing, I don’t know which one is safer in this case.

[Windflier]

One of the most incredible sonic landscapes ever recorded. It still holds up today.

[ResponseAbility]

After a little research I found some answers. His name was Denny Miller. He played the surfer, and later on an ape man who was actually an actor studying for a role.

He started out as Tarzan in a series. Now he is the Gorton’s Fisherman.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

The safest direction to head might have been out to sea. Out at sea, tsunamis (harbour waves)are barely perceptible. They only become huge, when they're slowed down by a shore & the water piles up.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

We need a UN resolution to drop the “t” from the spelling of tsunami. Think of the ink and paper we’d save over a lifetime of news reports. That one act might save the planet from overproduction of greenhouse gases and excessive pollution.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

We need a UN resolution to drop the “t” from the spelling of tsunami. Think of the ink and paper we’d save over a lifetime of news reports. That one act might save the planet from overproduction of greenhouse gases and excessive pollution.

That's racist!

[ReneeLynn]

Yep! THAT was one magic surfboard. And luckily two tsunami’s. Hahaha.

[monday]

“That’s been discussed. He wasn’t stupid; he was cool.”

Where and by who? I don't see any discussion of it in this thread up to this point.

[monday]

“In another report, he reportedly said that he felt the tremors but ignored it because it was common in New Zealand.”

You can’t feel “tremors” in the water, only on land.

[Finalapproach29er]

LOL

Thanks for the research!!