February 13, 2025
Surf star João Chianca practically dies in 'gnarly' incident in Hawaiian waters

The Hawaiian browsing pipeline has one of the harmful surfs in america, which makes it tempting for daredevils the world over to attempt to get ahold of the waves.

Brazilian professional surfer João Chianca practically gave his life for it over the weekend.

Chianca, who’s ranked No. 4 within the World Surf League and completed fourth in September’s World Surf League Finals, practically died Sunday within the waters off Honolulu, the place he took a severe wipeout and was left unconscious.

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Folks carry Brazilian surfer Joao Chianca who worn out whereas training for the upcoming Vans 2023 Pipeline Masters occasion at Banzai Pipeline in Haleiwa, Oahu’s north shore, Hawaii, on Dec. 3, 2023. (BRIAN BIELMANN/AFP through Getty Photos)

The 23-year-old bailed out of a wave and pin-dropped into the water. He hit his head both on the bottom or on his board, in line with Surfline. As he was knocked unconscious, extra waves toppled over him.

“I noticed it occur and had a bizarre feeling that the place and the way he fell was incorrect,” Jake Maki, who was watching Chianca from afar, instructed Surfline. “There was a variety of carnage, boards breaking, leashes popping — from each that set and the one earlier than it — so it was exhausting to determine the place João was. I didn’t see him pop up, then I noticed his board however was tombstoning, like he was nonetheless dragging it from underwater.”

Surfers and lifeguards rushed into the waters to assist Chianca, in line with Hawaii Information Now.

“There was truly three extra waves that he obtained on the top, and he was beneath water,” Honolulu Ocean Security Lifeguard Ian Bachmann instructed the station. “In that second, issues occurred so fast, however after we noticed his physique floating there, we thought we obtained to get to him as quick as potential.”

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Joao Chianca wipes out

Brazil’s pro-surfer Joao Chianca wipes out whereas training for the upcoming Vans 2023 Pipeline Masters occasion at Banzai Pipeline in Haleiwa, Oahu’s north shore, Hawaii, on Dec. 3, 2023. (BRIAN BIELMANN/AFP through Getty Photos)

Kala Grace was among the many surfers who had been shaken up over the incident.

“It was gnarly. I walked straight up, took my leash off, and I used to be completed browsing,” he mentioned. “I noticed him laying there fully purple out chilly and all of the lifeguards round, and all I might see mendacity on the board was simply me as a result of that was simply me in January.”

Chianca was described as being “fully purple” when he was pulled out of the water. He expelled the liquid from his physique as lifeguards carried out chest compressions on him. He was given oxygen and steadily regained his consciousness, Surfline reported.

He’s reportedly in secure situation.

Joao Chianca smiles

Joao Chianca after browsing in Warmth 8 of the Spherical of 64 on the Corona Saquarema Professional on Oct. 15, 2023 at Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro. (hiago Diz/World Surf League through Getty Photos)

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Chianca received the MEO Rip Curl Portugal Professional earlier this yr. He’s additionally sponsored by Volcom and Pink Bull.

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