It takes a rare breed of surfer to claim 11 titles out of 12 appearances at the ASP World Championship Events. His 11 wins at the championships are tied with that of Kelly Slater, and it takes some special skills to be that. Australian surfing legend Joel Parkinson, who has also contested at WSL, fits the bill perfectly. However, in his long surfing career, Parkinson, like any other surfer, hasn’t been bereft of injuries. And one such injury in 2010 almost tore off his muscles and tendons. Here’s what happened.

In 2010, Joel Parkinson and a few other surfers were gathered at the northern side of Point Danger at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia – Snapper Rocks. One of Parkinson’s favorite places to surf, the waters weren’t very kind to him that day in 2010 at Snapper Rocks. Here’s how things went down.

Joel Parkinson’s favorite spot turned into a nightmare for him

In a YouTube video shared by the channel ‘BALUVERXA’, the incident from 2010 was perfectly captured when Parkinson was injured. It was a normal day at Snapper Rocks, just like any other. The dredging barrels, steep drops, and spitting barrels were all on offer. There was nothing unique about Snapper.

However, in came a massive wave from nowhere, with what Parkinson assumed was a foamball. It took him out. His surfboard hit his foot, and it caused a severe injury. The clip shows the surfer riding with the wave with ease, whereas the next moment, out of nowhere, he was being carried off by three other men off the waters.

As horrific as surfing injuries get ala Kelly Slater’s broken bones, leaving him in a terrible physical state; Parkinson’s was right up there. His heel was nearly cut off in half, his tendons had deep gashes, and his leg muscles were also almost torn out in the open. It must not have been a pretty sight for anyone that day.

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American surfer Andy Irons was one of the members present there. He, along with others, then quickly wrapped his leg, covering all gashes with a white cloth wound tightly around it. Parkinson was then carried off on to an ambulance to the hospital.

Joel Parkinson bounced back like a true champ

A painful six weeks followed next for the Australian surfer. He was constantly kept under rehabilitation and had a few sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. Only after this was he even able to crawl.

But that didn’t mark the end of his professional surfing career. Parkinson bounced back and bounced back well. He went on to win the Rip Curl Pro, Billabong Pipeline Masters, and Oakley Pro Ball in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. But that injury must still haunt him to date.

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