An American died while surfing Teahupo’o last week. According to local reports, the man was surfing the famously dangerous break when he hit the reef.
On Friday, local news outlet Radio 1 reported that a 56-year-old surfer from California had been seriously injured while surfing Teahupo’o late Thursday afternoon. “The victim fell off his board, hit his head on the reef, and broke two vertebrae in his neck,” said Teahupo’o mayor Milton Parker.
Soon after, another American rescued the victim. Taiarapu-Ouest fire department head Haamoe Hoata added that the rescue operation was made more complex by the language barrier, as the victim and some of his relatives did not speak any French. After he was resuscitated and brought ashore, the man was first taken to the hospital in Taravao, then later transferred to the French Polynesia Hospital Center in critical condition. He reportedly passed away soon after.
Multiple social media posts have reported the death of a La Jolla surfer who was surfing in Tahiti at the same time. “Need to do this. Patrick Phillips, a longtime friend from San Diego passed away earlier this week while surfing in Tahiti,” wrote Greg Sinclair in a Facebook post. “At the current time I have no information about what happened. My heart goes out to his wife and two sons, his family and to his friends who are now sharing their love.” Online records show that Phillips was also 56 years old.
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A heavy slab that detonates over a shallow reef, Teahupo’o is a notoriously dangerous wave. To date, there have been five recorded deaths there, and many more close calls. Just two weeks ago, famed photographer Tim McKenna predicted a tragedy, writing, “A tragedy will happen at Teahupo’o on the next big southwest tow-in swell if it hits on a weekend or a public holiday. Mark my words.” At that time, he was referring to the prevalence of tourist boats in the lineup, and the inevitability that one of them would get caught by a wave or collide with a surfer – but the sentiment was prophetic nonetheless.
