A daredevil made a splash by surfing Britain’s biggest wave, dubbed the Widow Maker, as awe-struck locals watched on.
The enthusiast, known only as James, was filmed taking on the monster 40ft-high breakers.
He had painstakingly paddled out through the swell to take on the beast known as the Cribbar, and sometimes the Widow Maker.
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It is famous for creating gigantic waves and is popular with experienced surfers from across the world.
The megawave originates off Towan Headland, Newquay, Cornwall.
Local, Katrina Beddoe, saw the action unfold on Thursday (15 Jan).
“My friend and I popped over to see the waves knowing there was a massive swell on the way,” the sports massage therapist told, What’s The Jam.
“And all conditions such as low tide, big swell and offshore winds meant that the Cribbar could be firing. And we were right.
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“There was huge, clean, peeling waves breaking on our local big wave reef.
“There wasn’t a soul out there.
“But as we watched we saw a man paddling around around Towan head to the waves.
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“Paddling his 12ft surfboard looked laborious. It took him an hour.
“Then he positioned himself as we tentatively watched from the safety of land.
“He moved around to find the best take-off spot, which must have been difficult when it was shifting with each set.
“The wide sets coming in were considerably bigger and came about every 20 minutes.
“The guy, we found out was called James, from Croyde, North Devon.
“He sat up as he drifted up the face of a monstrous wave.
“The wave behind it was even bigger but clean and peeling.
“He started to paddle, stood up and surfed it. What a legend.
“We were now a small crowd, hooting and hollering for this stranger.
“He had no support crew, no jetskis, just pure determination and skill.
“It was epic.”
Katrina, a sports massage therapist who has run her own business for 14 years, added: “We had to leave after that.
“I heard that was his one wave and he then paddled back to shore.
“I’ve been a Newquay local since birth and was surfing since soon after that.
“I was exhilarated watching.
“I would never be able nor desire to surf in such conditions, preferring small, safe waves with limited consequences.
“But it inspires me, to see people out in those waves.
“Being self-employed allows me the freedom to surf and enjoy adventures when I can.”
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