Tasmanian surfer ‘amazed I’m still alive’ after terrifying wipe-out

An Aussie surfer had to be rescued and has little memory of the incident after being knocked unconscious at a famous wave.

Aussie surfer Mikey Brennan is stunned he’s alive to tell his story after a terrifying wipe-out on a notorious wave in Tasmania.

The 38-year-old was filmed setting off on a huge wave at Shipstern Bluff on the Tasman Peninsula, renowned as one of the world’s most dangerous surf locations, as The Mercury reported.

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Brennan has been surfing the spot since he was a teenager, but still came off second best when he attempted to ride a wave estimated to be around five-to-six metres.

Brennan was knocked unconscious and had to be rescued and has little memory of the incident.

“I’m amazed I’m still alive”, he said.

“I kind of remember the wave, like coming into the wave and then hitting the big step, which just felt so big, like one of those monumental kind of moments.

“I just sort of went down real hard. I just couldn’t control it to kind of stick that landing.”

Big wave surfer Mikey Brennan. Photos: Channel 7

Brennan is no stranger to injuries, having previously broken his back surfing Tasmania’s East Coast, and was fortunate to only end up with a concussion and bruised ribs from this encounter.

Understanding the dangers at the spot known as “Shippies”, Brennan had a crew of four others with him at the time.

“The boys sort of pretty much picked me out of the water,” Brennan said.

“We have a safety initiative down there now. We have jet skis and all the safety gear and safety pack, spinal board and all our own flotation devices and all the safety equipment.

“So we’re all as prepared as we can be.”

In the stunning video, one of the support crew is heard saying: “That was f**king gnarly man.”

Another adds: “That was huge. I reckon he’s hurt himself maybe.”

Dragged from the water on a jet ski, Brennan was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital.

At first, he was disorientated after the heavy fall.

“I was pretty much coming to at that time, I was asking the guys who they all were,” he said.

“I didn’t know who anyone was.

“They put me through a CT scan and checked all that out and then I was with the trauma team and they checked me all out.

“Everyone was really nice and kind. I just have had a massive headache, like, a minor concussion so I am pretty lucky.

Mikey Brennan after being rescued. Photo: Andy Chisolm

File photo of Brennan riding Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania. Photo: Billabong

“To be honest it was the closest to death because even when I broke my back on the East Coast at Governors (Island) I was conscious for the whole time

“It was equally as dangerous, but like this was just being knocked out and going unconscious. I really can’t quite explain it.”

Grateful to be alive, Brennan has no plans to quit his passion for the ocean.

“I love the ocean,” he said. “I was pushing it. I knew that I was pushing it against my fear and I guess you have to be willing to go into that place and that’s what I did.

“So I’m just blessed and really grateful for life and just looking forward to spending time with everyone.”