Matt Bromley Grateful To Be Alive After 9’6” Gun Spears Head, Spares Brain At Puerto Escondido - Stab Mag

Live Now: How Surfers Get Paid, Season 2 Episode 7 — Laird vs. The World

733 Views
Matt and the 9'6" Dave van Ginkel gun that almost killed him on Friday. Dave is a South African shaper who became renowned for his Dungeon's shapes in the late-90's and early-2000's. Photo and words from Alan van Gysen.

Matt Bromley Grateful To Be Alive After 9’6” Gun Spears Head, Spares Brain At Puerto Escondido

“How does skull bone crush the nose of a heavily-glassed 9’6” and not the other way around?” asks witness AVG.

news // Sep 4, 2023
Words by Ethan Davis
Reading Time: 3 minutes

On Friday, South African big wave surfer Matt Bromley suffered head injuries at Puerto Escondido, after being struck by the nose of his 9’6″ big wave surfboard in 10-15ft surf.

Miraculously, Matt appears to be okay, with the exception of some facial swelling around the site of the wound. The same cannot be said for the nose of his heavily-glassed 9’6″ Dave van Ginkel (see below).

Physiology/materials experts feel free to chime in here – How does bone crush a 6oz-glassed stringer and not the other way around? 

Not a lobotomy tool. Photo by Alan van Gysen

“There is nothing wrong with the bone, no fracture, no cracking. It was just all muscle and tissue and skin that was affected,” No Contest producer Alan Van Gysen (AVG) told Stab, who witnessed the event from the sand. 

“We’ve had some time to let the dust settle and we phone some specialists back home in South Africa to get a second opinion,” explains AVG. “The doctors and treatment here were really good. I think most importantly, it’s just incredible that Matt is actually in very little pain, which is the best case scenario. The nose of his 9’6” missed his eye by millimeters and the wound was really, really exceptionally wide and quite long – running from his eyebrow all the way to the top of his head. The inflammation and the swelling has been normal for this kind of injury. We’re past the concussion concerns, he’s been completely himself and resting well. We’re just watching out to make sure there’s no infection over the next couple of days. Watching him take that beating and then have four waves afterwards pounding him and ripping him out to sea was really gnarly to watch.”

“The local lifeguards tried to put the jet ski in the water, but it instantly broke down and a huge set smashed it back into the shore. Matt was left having to fend for himself, but once he got through the last wave, just trying to stay conscious, some surfers came to his aid who were really, really amazing, especially these one or two young chaps. They made sure that he was safe and paddled him across to a safe spot where they could rally down a fishing boat. A guy stopped and loaded Matt into his boat and brought him safely at the corner of Puerto. It just shows you how quickly these things can happen.”

Matt will be heading back to Cape Town this week, a two-day journey, to get further tests and scans to clear him. “Matt’s father is quite well connected with a lot of big, well respected doctors, so they’ll do some checks and all that and he’s definitely going to need a plastic surgeon to make sure that that scar is better stitched. The doctor just did a very simple exterior job so that if there is any infection it can ooze out,” 

Matt and AVG pass on their gratitude to Edwin Morales, Juan Juan Fischer and the doctors at Hospital Ángel del Mar (Angel of the Sea) for their assistance. “I think it’s just a good thing for those of us who are in the world of media to remind people that Matt is one of the best big way surfers in the world and he got injured here. Puerto is super heavy and there’s quite a lot of people that come out here not knowing how gnarly the wave is. It’s just like these giant 15 to 20 foot waves just pounding the dry sand. Just make sure you are prepared and willing to take the risks,” he cautions. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Julian + Filipe Just Delivered The Most Electrifying Final We’ve Seen All Year

Toledo and BLSJ are your Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro champions.

May 10, 2025

2015 Energy, 2025 Execution: JW and Jordy Run Riot On The Gold Coast

The wildcard racked up 18-points + steamrolled an Olympic gold medallist along the way.

May 9, 2025

Everything You Need To Know About Stab High Japan 2025 Presented By Monster Energy

Who, when, where, and how to watch.

May 9, 2025

Morgz Ousts Ewing, Steph Cools Simmers, Toledo Pours Kerosene on His Pile of Green Leaves

Wildcards rampage on day two of the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro.

May 8, 2025

Is This The End Of The ‘Bu As We Know It?

Charting the devastating aftermath of L.A.’s Palisades Fire.

May 8, 2025

Stab High Rookie Fires A Few Tail High Warning Shots

Watch Dane Henry's West Australian Snapt5 B-sides.

May 8, 2025

Re-Watch: Stab High Wildcard Ryan Huckabee’s Bootleg SEOTY

HUCK, and an insight into Ryan Huckabee's work-life balance.

May 7, 2025

Stab Interview: Nicolas Cage

On tombstoning in Malibu, Kelly Slater, shoving things in people’s mouths, and the release of…

May 6, 2025

“The End of an Era”

Rest in Power, Clyde Aikau.

May 5, 2025

Can You Surf Without A Traction Pad? 

Only 9% of surfers do, so let’s reveal who makes the best in the game. 

May 5, 2025

Julian Wilson Reverts To Vintage Form, Eliminates Jack Robinson

Morgan Cibilic gets a late wildcard into the draw and continues rampage.

May 4, 2025

Unlocked: Jai Glindeman’s Stab Edit Of The Year Entry, ‘Free Flow’

Shot in Fiji, Indo and Oz during ‘Magic May’.

May 4, 2025

When Is An Interference An Interference?

And more existential questions from Day 1 of the 2025 Gold Coast Pro Burleigh.

May 3, 2025

Stab Interview: WSL CEO Ryan Crosby On The Tectonic Shifts Coming To The Championship Tour

Mid-year cut and Final Five to depart in 2026, while Pipeline will return as the…

May 2, 2025

Breaking: Pipeline To Return As Final CT Stop For 2026, While Mid-Year Cut And WSL Finals Will Depart

Surf fans, rejoice.

May 2, 2025

How Surfers Get Paid: Season 2, Episode 7

Laird Vs. The World.

May 2, 2025

Vote Now! The Final Spot In Stab High Japan 2025 Is Yours To Give

Pick your pony from the top 10 Instagram submissions.

May 1, 2025

Preview: The Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro

Bede Durbidge + Maddy Job breakdown the return of Burleigh after a 25-year CT hiatus.

May 1, 2025
Advertisement