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| Surfer Andrew Cotton survives fall on huge wave | Surfer Andrew Cotton survives fall on huge wave |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Surfer Andrew Cotton survived a fall on a huge wave caused by a storm which has hit the west coast of Europe. | Surfer Andrew Cotton survived a fall on a huge wave caused by a storm which has hit the west coast of Europe. |
| Cotton, 34, from Braunton in Devon, was at St Nazare, Portugal where he was filmed falling as the wave crest caught up with him. | Cotton, 34, from Braunton in Devon, was at St Nazare, Portugal where he was filmed falling as the wave crest caught up with him. |
| He told BBC News the fall was "pretty bad", but he used a new inflatable vest and so "shot up" to the surface. | He told BBC News the fall was "pretty bad", but he used a new inflatable vest and so "shot up" to the surface. |
| Conditions were said to be difficult with strong winds creating a bumpy surface. | Conditions were said to be difficult with strong winds creating a bumpy surface. |
| "It was definitely bordering on unsurfable," said Cotton. | "It was definitely bordering on unsurfable," said Cotton. |
| "It was a very intimidating, bumpy and far from perfect session. But it was another key learning experience for surfing giant waves, which is really important for me at this point." | "It was a very intimidating, bumpy and far from perfect session. But it was another key learning experience for surfing giant waves, which is really important for me at this point." |
| 'Love to surf' | 'Love to surf' |
| Cotton was also recovering from an ankle injury sustained at another big wave session in Ireland. | Cotton was also recovering from an ankle injury sustained at another big wave session in Ireland. |
| He said: "When you're going that fast on a surfboard, even the small bumps can cause you problems and hinder your surfing potential." | He said: "When you're going that fast on a surfboard, even the small bumps can cause you problems and hinder your surfing potential." |
| Cotton surfed waves estimated at 30m (98ft) high at St Nazare in October last year. | |
| Judges from the Billabong XXL competition will decide in March if it was his biggest wave yet. | Judges from the Billabong XXL competition will decide in March if it was his biggest wave yet. |
| He said: "Luckily it's not my job to measure these waves - I just love to surf them. | He said: "Luckily it's not my job to measure these waves - I just love to surf them. |
| "I leave that to the experts but I'm really looking forward to their call." | "I leave that to the experts but I'm really looking forward to their call." |