Update 12/20 1:50 a.m.: Santa Cruz resident Zach Wormhoudt, who was surfing alongside Gerard Butler at Mavericks on Sunday when the accident took place, told the San Jose Mercury News (in an article published at 9:45 p.m. on 12/19) that Butler was not seriously injured and was released from Stanford Hospital after observation. According to the Mercury News, Wormhoudt said that the group was avoiding a set of 15-ft waves when a larger set came towards them, which caused Butler to be held down at the Half Moon Bay surf break under a series of big waves.
Local and international sources are reporting that Hollywood movie star Gerard Butler was sent to Stanford Hospital Sunday afternoon after reportedly being held down by a few waves at the world-famous surf break located less than a mile past Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay.
Butler, 42, was filming "," a movie about Mavericks surfing legend .
Ari Delay, Battalion Chief for the Coastside Fire Protection District station in Half Moon Bay, said that while he could not confirm or deny the identity of the patient, there was a man that was pulled in to shore from Mavericks at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday.
"The man was taken to the launch ramp at Pillar Point Harbor by boat, then sent by ambulance to Stanford Hospital," he said.
“Butler was held down for a solid two-waves and took four or five more waves on the head," local surfer Frank Quirarte was quoted in The Mirror as saying.
“He was then washed through the rocks on the inside before he was finally able to be plucked out," Quirarte continued in the article. “Even on small days the inside at Maverick’s can push 10ft plus and really tear you up. When they brought Butler in he had that 100-yard stare that surfers get after a two-wave hold [down] or near death experience. After almost 20 years at Mavericks I’ve seen a lot of it, but at least he was standing on his own two legs. He was then carted away in a waiting ambulance.”
"Of Men and Mavericks" has been in , and for the last few months, including along the South Coast in . The film was in production at Pillar Point Harbor and Montara State Beach last week.
In March, surfer from Hawaii died after being held down by two waves at Mavericks.
Inquiries to Stanford Hospital and Butler's publicist about the star's condition have not been answered at the time of publication. Half Moon Bay Patch will provide more information once it becomes available.
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