Laurie Towner’s Teahupo’o wipeout was horrific to say the least. Tracks spoke to Laurie’s family (which you can read here) shortly afterwards, but now footage has emerged courtesy of Tim Bonython that includes the wave and an interview with a very shaken Towner describing what he remembers from that day.
“I can remember the actual hit, like I can just remember that vaguely … I can’t remember after that till being in the calm water,” says Laurie. Apparently there was a bigger set behind and Albee Layer reckons he say me for a split second pop up but I don’t know if I was with it or not but I was right where the left meets the right … he reckons I was in a terrible spot.”
Despite suffering a broken jaw, lacerations to his face and eye which required stitches and a puncture to his neck which narrowly missed his carotid artery Laurie is on the mend and as positive as ever.
Footage: Greg Huglin
Interview: Tim Bonython
Film by: SURFINGVISIONS