World Champ Surfer Tom Carroll Talks “Headfirst” Wipeout

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Dec 2, 2024 12:12 PM ET

Last week, two-time world champion Tom Carroll suffered an accident while surfing a small day at his home break, North Narrabeen, Australia. Lifeguards jumped into action to help, medics were called, and TC was rushed to hospital. His status was unknown; the surf world rallied in support.

Turned out, Tom hit his head on his own board and lost a bit of consciousness. He had a cut on the top of his dome. And as a result, he received four stitches. The champ was gonna be alright.

And now, TC is here to tell the tale of what happened:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tom Carroll (@thomasvictorcarroll)

“I have a hunch it started from not wiping all the sunscreen off my hands before surfing, but I still can’t recall clearly,” Tom kicked it off. “Anyhow here’s an attempt to relay the experience.”

He continued:

“Sharing a few words of enthusiasm about the fun we’re experiencing I start paddling for a 2-3’ wind swell wedge on the inside of North Narrabeen something I’ve done on thousands of occasions since I was 12yrs old.

“Few easy paddles, feeling momentum, very relaxed…head down, hands feeling the deck and rail, pushing up, I lift, bring my right foot and knee under my body…from here memory goes fuzzy…the next moment I am head first into the deck of my board hearing a loud crunching though my neck. Electric fire through nerve endings down my right side. Wave passes. Alarmed I’m still with my board (no leg rope) fragments of consciousness piecing together chunks as shock starts to settle into the mind body system.

“A searching left hand slips a middle finger into a deep but small laceration in my forehead (ten head really) relaying the need to get stitches…Steps from there now leave me feeling a whole load of gratitude for all the people who helped from the water to now.”

Glad to hear the champ is a-okay, and likely going to be in the water again soon.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: