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Gerard Butler's 'near death' surfing mishap

By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
Updated

Actor Gerard Butler was hospitalized after being pummeled by big waves while filming a new surfing movie over the weekend, according to ESPN.com.

Butler was held under water after being caught inside at Mavericks, the notorious big wave surf spot in Northern California where several surfers have been killed.

The 42-year old action star of 300 was shooting a new film called Of Men and Mavericks when he was pounded by a set of 12-16 foot waves. Butler was held underwater for several waves and dragged through rocks until rescued by a safety worker on a jet ski.

"He was down at least 20, maybe 40 seconds. It's traumatic because you're rolling around a bunch with lots of rocks on the inside of the break — called the bone yard," surfer Zach Wormhoudt told the New York Daily News. "We all went through that."

When the shaken actor emerged from the water, "he had that 100-yard stare that surfers get after a two-wave hold-down or near-death experience," wrote Frank Quirarte on ESPN.com (The photographer also shot some interesting pictures of the incident).

Butler was taken by ambulance to Stanford Medical Center for observation, then released. His rep said:

He's fine. Very scary. They brought him to Stanford University. More scary than anything. For precaution, we all wanted him checked out after it all happened. Came out with flying colors.

Butler portrays s a surfer in the new flick about big wave legend Jay Moriarity, who surfed Mavericks at age 16 before dying in a free-diving accident in 2001.

With its giant waves that can reach several stories high and rocky shore, Mavericks near Half Moon Bay, Calif., has been a graveyard for even the best surfers. Pro surfer Mark Foo died at Mavericks in 1994. Another big wave rider, Sion Milosky, drowned after enduring a two-wave hold-down earlier this year.

Send news tips, videos and links to Mike McCarthy at mmccarthy@usatoday.com. Follow Mike on Twitter: @MMcCarthyUSAT

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