Laurie Towner hospitalised while shooting Point Break 2 at Teahupoo

Three days ago, Stab spoke to Laurie Towner about his upcoming role as stunt double for Johnny Utah in Point Break 2. Loz told us that the film’s producers would shut down Teahupoo for a bomb swell, and that a 250-strong crew would capture the stunt-surfing from all angles. And, it all went ahead as planned, except for one nightmare situation: Laurie was hospitalised during filming.

“If I was looking at a chart from home, I’d say it’s looking perfect to tell you the truth, and I’d be getting on a plane.” That was Laurie’s forecast of conditions leading up to the day. And based on the photo above, we’re gonna say he was right. But one thing we all know about Chopes is that however pretty she may look, she slaps like a Solange in an elevator. So, what exactly happened to Loz?

@laurietowner

“(sic) Teahupoo gave me a good old fashion flogging yesterday on my 3rd wave,” he wrote on Instagram. “I let go of the rope on an a evil little west one. It was a pretty slow swell an although I should of kicked out I decided to go anyway. I could tell the lump of swell was going into the channel which generally means it’s a close out or a really fast west one. I hit my head on the bottom an must have blacked out because the next thing I can remember is being in the lagoon gasping for air in calm water. Apparently there was a bigger wave behind an no one saw me surface so I’m not sure if I had a 2 wave hold down or the wave I was on sent me straight to the lagoon. Either way I’m really Lucky an grateful I’m still here. I got myself a broken jaw some stitches in my lip an eye lid whip lash to my neck an back and a couple small puncher wounds that went through my neck an into the back of my mouth that apparently just missed an artery. Just want to thank every one who helped me though out yesterday really appreciate it! I’m all good an as positive as ever! I’ll be back when my jaw is good. In the mean time @bronandloz is coming to hang by my side because I can’t fly for a while see ya soon!”

Many, many props to this gent. We’d like to think that there’ll be some kinda recompense care of Hollywood, but waivers were no doubt signed and them’s the breaks when you’re a stunt guy. It’s a man’s game.

Read Laurie’s initial interview with Stab, here.

Oh, and here’s a bomb that Matahi Drollet clocked during filming: