Devastating image shows surf star Billy Kemper after brutal wipeout

There is a cost to chasing the world’s biggest waves and this surf star is paying a heartbreaking price after a sickening wipeout.

Billy Kemper arrives in the United States. Photo: Koa Smith.

There is a cost every big-wave adrenaline junkie has to pay to chase the world’s biggest waves — and Billy Kemper is paying every cent of it.

The 30-year-old Hawaiian on Tuesday landed back in the United States on a medically-supported private charter flight — more than a week after his sickening wipeout off the coast of Morocco.

Kemper was reportedly filming a new project surfing in North Africa when he wiped out hard on a wave that is being reported as a “mutant slab”.

The 2019 Big Wave Surfing champion has told of the “violent” wave that sucked him under and brutally drove him into the break’s reef and his own surf board in a scary moment that left him barely conscious.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Morocco last week, Kemper confirmed he had suffered a broken pelvis as part of the forceful wipeout that shattered part of his side and left him with torn ligaments in his knee and hip.

Kemper needed to wait almost a full week before he was finally cleared to fly home to California on Tuesday.

Close friend and Koa Smith, who was reportedly with Kemper when the wipout occurred, shared a devastating image of Kemper being stretchered from the flight, unable to get up from his hospital bed.

The World Surf League reported on Tuesday Kemper has arrived back in the USA to see his medical specialists to assess any further treatment options he may have.

Just in: @billy_kemper has landed in California for medical evaluation by his team of specialists following his injury in Morocco last week. 

Photos provided by @koasmith who has been by Billy’s side since the injury. 

Wishing Billy a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/onXdvRRPrW

— World Surf League (@wsl) February 25, 2020

Despite his harrowing incident, Kemper has remained upbeat while speaking in hospital.

He told Stabmag.com last week that he may have passed out after resurfacing from the wipeout and doesn’t remember all the details of his rescue.

“I don’t even know what happened,” he said.

“It was so violent, it knocked me out, and when I surfaced I was barely conscious. I did everything I could to yell or wave for help but couldn’t because my body was seizing. I’m lucky there wasn’t a second wave.

“The wave was so below sea level, I couldn’t keep my outside rail from catching. But man, yesterday was one of the best days of surfing I’ve been a part of.”

When shown footage of the incident, Kemper is reported to have said: “That’s f***ed up”.

He posted on Instagram this week that he intends to fight his way back to the scene.

He says he is yet to discuss his surgical options and won’t know his likely rehabilitation period until after consulting with the specialists.

“Overwhelmed in the amount of love and support after a pretty bad accident yesterday,” he posted.

“Very grateful for this crew right here but most importantly I wanna thank @jerome_sahyoun for everything you’ve done for me, you are my brother for life. I’ll be back stronger then ever.”