GASH / GORE

It was a real stormy day with a strong offshore wind blowing, so Raphael Hierzer thought he’d head on out to Westport’s Tip Head which provided a little more shelter from the wind. A good overhead set marched in a Raphael lined it up, paddling hard, but being held up in the wind he realised he was too high and attempted to just go it late and sneak in under the lip, but as he got to his feet the wind got in under his board held him up, and he was catapulted with the lip. While flying through the air his board slammed into his head and he went down hard. That was the last thing he remembers and can’t recall a hold down or being submerged. Obviously unconscious for a few seconds, he remembers coming up and taking this huge breath. Realising there was a heap of blood running down his left eye, he couldn’t see. Attempting to wipe away the blood obscuring his vision, he immediately felt the gash in his head and pressed his hand on the wound to stem the bleeding. Not knowing how bad the injury was Raphael paddled in, blood pouring down his face and made his way back to the car. The surf was really pumping so he got a friend to check out the injury and asked if he thought it was ok to go back out? His mate immediately suggested he go and get it checked out, so holding a T-shirt to his head to mop up the bleeding he was driven by his Grandfather who just so happened to be fishing nearby. Off to Westport Hospital where he received four stitches. Raphael we’re glad to hear you made a full recovery and were back in the waves a week later. And are also so impressed with your hunger to score waves even when your head has a giant hole in it. Congrats on taking out the loot from our good friends at Skullcandy! Think you’ve got the goods for the next issue? Show us your worthy gash and we’ll be the judge. Send clear hi-res jpegs to cory@pacificmedia.co.nz put Skullcandy-gashgore in the subject field...