Lewis Hamilton Reveals Terrifying Near-Death Experience While Surfing in Hawaii - 'I Thought It Was All Over'
When you think of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, you likely envision him behind the wheel of a blazing fast Mercedes, slicing through chicanes and roaring down straights. However, Hamilton recently opened up about a terrifying, near-death experience that had nothing to do with the racetrack.
During a candid interview on the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, Hamilton recounted an incident that occurred while surfing the notorious Pipeline in Hawaii with none other than eleven-time World Surfing League champion Kelly Slater. This wasn't just a casual day at the beach; it was a life-and-death struggle involving monstrous 20-foot waves.
'It was 20-foot waves and Kelly was like "there's no way you're coming out there,"' Hamilton recalled. Despite Slater's caution, Hamilton decided to paddle out. Almost immediately, he regretted the decision. 'As I started to try to paddle in, I got sucked into the kill zone,' he said. 'I turned around and saw this set of four waves coming. [I thought] "it's over, it's all over."'
Facing the Wrath of the Ocean
The Formula 1 superstar quickly found himself at the mercy of the ocean. Realizing the impending danger, Hamilton jumped off his board and dove underwater, clinging desperately to the reef below. 'I could hear the wave crash above me,' he said. 'My board got ripped off and snapped in half. I came back up gasping for air but the next one was coming so I went back down.'
Imagine repeatedly diving underwater in a desperate bid to avoid being crushed by a wall of water. That's precisely what Hamilton did—three more times. Each time he surfaced, only to be forced back under by yet another monstrous wave. 'I nearly ran out of air, I nearly drowned,' he admitted.
The Kindness of Friends
Thankfully, Lewis managed to swim back to shore, and credits Slater's support and friendship for helping him through the ordeal. This wasn’t Hamilton's first time dabbling in surfing under Slater's guidance. The two had previously spent time at Slater's state-of-the-art Surf Ranch in California's San Joaquin Valley, home to the world's largest open-barrel artificial wave powered by renewable energy.
'New year, new sport, time to learn new things. Thank you #goat Kelly Slater for teaching me! That was rad,' Hamilton had posted on social media back in 2019, along with pictures of the duo surfing together.
A Lesson in Humility and Respect
For someone like Hamilton, who is used to controlling every aspect of his environment while racing, the surfing scare was a humbling experience. 'You have a different respect for nature and its power when you're out there,' he reflected.
Experiences like these serve as a reminder that even a world champion isn't invincible. Hamilton's story is not only a captivating account of survival but also a testament to the respect and caution that extreme sports often demand. It’s a stark contrast to the precision and control required in Formula 1, making his story all the more gripping.
As fans of both motorsport and surfing, we can take inspiration from Hamilton's courage to step out of his comfort zone and face the elements head-on. Whether behind the wheel or on a surfboard, he continues to show that pushing boundaries—literally and figuratively—is part of his DNA.