Gerard Butler has had a lucky escape after almost drowning while filming his latest movie in California.
The 42-year-old had to be rushed to hospital after being hit by a succession of waves during a surfing stunt while filming his new movie Of Men and Mavericks.
While filming, he became caught in the 12-foot swell and was hit by a large wave, becoming trapped underwater by a succession of following waves.
Butler, who plays the role of champion surfer Rick “Frosty” Henson in the true life flick based on surfer Jay Moriarty, was pulled from the water onto a jet ski.
He was then brought to shore, helped from the water and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, but escaped serious injury.
Eye witness, surfer Fran Quirarte, saw the events unfold during the filming at the northern California surfbreak.
“Butler was held down for a solid two waves and took four or five more waves on the head,” Quirarte said.
“He was then washed through the rocks on the inside before he was finally able to be plucked out.
“Even on small days the inside at Maverick’s can push 10-foot plus and really tear you up. When they brought Butler in he had that 100-yard stare that surfers get after a two-wave hold [down] or near-death experience.”
Quirate claimed Butler and the film crew were becoming impatient after waiting several days to get in the water.
“With Maverick’s and the entire Northern Hemisphere big-wave season off to a slow start surfers and the film crew were chomping at the bit to get a few days of surfing and filming in,” Quirate said.
“Waves were running at 12ft, but some large ones had got through.”
Butler was held in hospital overnight for observation.
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