Tassie surfer Mikey Brennan ‘amazed I’m still alive’ after Shippies wipe out

He’s been surfing one of the world’s most dangerous surf spots since he was a teenager and being wiped out will not stop him going back to the ocean he loves. Watch the video >>

“I’m amazed I’m still alive”, surfer Mikey Brennan said after being knocked unconscious by a massive wave at Shipstern Bluff on the Tasman Peninsula, one of the most dangerous surf spots in the world.

Mr Brennan, 38, of Sandy Bay has been surfing Shippies since he was just 16.

He was with four others in the water on Friday afternoon surfing the 5-6m waves and struggles to remember being wiped out.

“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,” Mr Brennan said.

“I just sort of went down real hard.

“I just couldn’t control it to kind of stick that landing.”

Surfer Mike Brennan from Sandy Bay after being rescued at Shipstern Bluff. Picture: Andy Chisholm.

He has previously broken his back surfing on Tasmania’s East Coast and was fortunate to escape with just bruised ribs and minor concussion after being rescued.

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

Mr Brennan was quickly dragged from the water on to a jet ski.

“I was pretty much coming to at that time, I was asking the guys who they all were. I didn’t know who anyone was.”

Surfer is Mike Brennan from Sandy Bay at Shipstern Bluff. Picture: Andy Chisholm

He went to the Royal Hobart Hospital, had a CT scan and spent time on the trauma ward.

“I pretty much just had bruised ribs. I didn’t break anything.

“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.

“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.”

Surfer Mike Brennan from Sandy Bay being rescued at Shipstern Bluff. Picture: Andy Chisholm.

Mr Brennan has no plans to give up surfing.

“I love the ocean.

“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.”

Amateur photographer Andy Chisholm, who was in the boat that accompanied the surfers from White Beach, said Mr Brennan had “disappeared for a while”.

“It was a massive swell with ocean storms,” he said.