World #4 Joao Chianca Hospitalised After Multiple-Wave Hold Down At Pipe
“His board was tombstoning and when they got to it, he was stuck at the bottom still attached to the leash,” said an eyewitness.
World #4 and 2022 Vans Pipe Masters finalist Joao Chianca is in a stable condition at Queens Hospital in Honolulu after sustaining a multiple-wave hold under at Pipeline. He was dragged to shore by Jake Maki, a local North Shore surfer. The rescue took about three minutes, by which time Joao had taken multiple waves on the head following his fall.
“His board was tombstoning, and when they got to it, he was at the bottom still attached by leash,” said an eyewitness.
Joao was last seen breathing before he was carried away in an ambulance. Friends and family are with him at the hospital according to reports.
The conditions are 8-12ft, with light winds, proper heaving Pipe pits on the inside ledge, a lineup filled with Vans Pipe Masters competitors, the odd one at Backdoor, and a handful of second-reefers.
A local filmer told Stab, “Joao likely tried to pencil dive. Landed halfway down. Didn’t fully penetrate. Then probably got sucked over.”
Very scary. Our thoughts go out to those affected. We wish Joao a speedy recovery.
More to come.
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