GoFundMe raises $26k for Harry Hollmer-Cross after serious Shipstern Bluff wipe-out

What started as a regular day in the ocean turned into the stuff of nightmares for a Tasmanian father who had to pull his unconscious son from the surf. HIS ROAD TO RECOVERY >

Harry Hollmer-Cross was injured after wiping out on a wave at Shipstern Bluff in Tasmania.

What started as a regular day in the ocean turned into the stuff of nightmares for a young Tasmanian surfer – after a wipe-out left him unconscious and facedown in the water.

James Hollmer-Cross was watching son, Harry, 19, catch waves at Shipstern Bluff on March 26, when the young surfer tackled a huge wave.

But when Harry did not immediately resurface after wiping out, Mr Hollmer-Cross said he thought something was wrong.

“The wave happened and it was a big one, he rode it really well … but obviously something happened underwater, I reckon he was knocked unconscious straight away,” Mr Hollmer-Cross said.

Tasmanian surfer Harry Hollmer-Cross, 19, was seriously injured after wiping out on a wave at Shipstern Bluff. More than $23k has been raised through a GoFundMe.

James Hollmer-Cross. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

He said what happened next was still a blur to him, as he became focused on finding his son.

While on his jetski, Mr Hollmer-Cross followed Harry’s board and eventually saw his son face down in the surf.

“I was down near the end of the point and I saw his back, and he was face down, it felt like a long time but it was only 10 to 15 seconds but I had to make a decision,” he said.

“I thought ‘should I pull him onto the jetski?’ but I thought no, so I jumped off and swam up to him, flipped him over and realised he wasn’t breathing.”

Mr Hollmer-Cross put “two to three big deep breaths” into his son as he and other surfers pulled him onto a boat and called for help.

“He wasn’t breathing, he was blue, and then we did some CPR and his body reacted to it, he began breathing and coughed up so much water – litres,” he said.

Harry Hollmer-Cross surfing.

The rescue chopper took Harry to the Royal Hobart Hospital, from which he has since been discharged.

Harry has no memory of the incident, but was left with a concussion, lacerations to his head, and a loss of hearing in his left ear.

He may need a hearing aid.

Mr Hollmer-Cross said the family was stoked to have Harry home at Park Beach.

“He’s got to do some rehab, got to look after himself, and apart from the hearing he’s got no permanent damage, so he’s just got a long road ahead,” he said.

The experience left Mr Hollmer-Cross thinking about what could be done to prevent injuries to surfers – even experienced ones such as the Hollmer-Cross family.

“It shouldn’t take this kind of thing to happen, but it has happened, so we are going to address it – in terms of probably bringing in helmets and other safety gear,” he said.

Tasmanian surfer Harry Hollmer-Cross, 19.

“You can break a bone and heal, but if someone drowns or does permanent head damage that is it, it’s done, but that will be one of the areas we will look at.”

He said despite the long road ahead for Harry, his son’s passion still remained in the ocean.

“It is his life, it’s his passion, I don’t think even this will deter him. He’s pretty strong-minded.”

A GoFundMe to assist in Harry’s rehabilitation has raised more than $26k at the time of print.

Find the campaign at: https://bit.ly/40NduTb