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For surfers, taking the occasional blow while riding the waves is part and parcel of the job. Surfing is a dangerous sport, and professional stars often face serious accidents as they attempt to dominate the seas. A similar incident occurred in 2023 at the Vans Pipe Masters when Tahitian sensation Eimeo Czermak suffered a life-threatening neck injury. However, the spine and head injury has left the star in a financial uphill battle, and surfing legend Kelly Slater has come forward to help his comrade overcome the difficult times.

Slater is widely considered the greatest surfer of all time. Slater has won the World Surf League a record 11 times and is always on the lookout to elevate the sport to new heights. However, Czermak’s injury and recent financial conditions have prompted the icon to take a moment to urge his fans to stand beside Eimeo after the Teahupo’o incident.

Surfing legend stands beside his comrade in troubled times

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In his recent Instagram story, Kelly Slater has shared Czermak’s GoFundMe page and has requested fans to help out in any way possible. “Our boy @eimeo.czermak needs some financial help after nearly dying at Pipe“, writes Slater in the Insta story.

After falling head-first into the water, Czermak was rushed to the hospital, and it was learned that the seriousness of the injury could make it difficult to regain the use of his legs.Under such circumstances, Czermak faced a massive financial ordeal as the total cost of the surgeries, MRIs, and ambulances was estimated to be around $55,000.

 

Fans were also taken aback after learning that Czermak didn’t have travel insurance as he thought he would be covered by the Vans event. However, amidst such a dire situation, 51-year-old Kelly Slater has stepped forward requesting his fans to do their part to help the Tahitian surfer return to his natural element as soon as possible.

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In his Insta story, Slater also proclaimed his confidence in the young surfing star. “This kid is a beast and will push the boundaries for many years to come!“, wrote Slater. So far, Czermak’s call for help has raised close to $23,000 with the help of his fans.

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More wipeouts shake the surfing community

Only days before Czermak’s horror accident, 23-year-old Brazilian surfer Joao Chianca was also rushed to the hospital after being knocked out cold by the waves at the Pipeline. Chianca was having a field day and was showing some of his moments from the season before he took a fall and remained underwater for several minutes.

Read more: 11 New Surfing Park Projects Hit US Markets; Orlando Announces 43 Acre Design to Excite Fans – EssentiallySports

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Luckily, the medical team was able to bring the situation under control. While such accidents send ripples, we hope that surfers continue to bask in the glory of their natural habitat.

Watch this story: Amid the Lethal Rise of ‘Subway Surfing’ Trend Another 14-Year-Old Meets the Tragic Fate