Tom Lowe suffered a serious injury after a wipeout at Teahupo’o. Photo: GoFundMe
Tom Lowe is no stranger to waves of consequence. He knows the risks of what he does and he’s willing to pay to play. But when it comes time to actually pull out the wallet, it’s a painful thing. During the recent enormous Teahupo’o swell, Lowe smashed himself up real good. And now he needs a little help from the surf community.
The wipeout, which occurred on April 28, was a bad one. The waves were huge and the lineup was stacked. Lowe paddled for a wave, got thrown on the takeoff, then hit the reef with the force of the ocean riding his back. The impact broke five of his ribs, punctured a lung, and left Tom in dire straits.
“His resulting injuries from hitting the reef required he be airlifted to the hospital where he underwent multiple emergency surgeries,” Greg Long wrote. “He is currently in stable condition but will need to remain under close watch in the hospital for the coming days.”
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Lowe is famously kind to everyone he meets. He’s also extraordinarily talented and driven, but no matter how strong he is, his recovery won’t be an easy one.
“Anyone who has ever met Tom knows him as a humble, kind and talented surfer who is a dedicated family man to his wife Tess, daughter Tigerlilly and soon-to-be baby-on-the-way,” Long continued. “Tom has a long road ahead, but true to his nature, he is positive, in a fighting spirit, and extends his heartfelt gratitude for all the love and support he is being shown.”
Unfortunately, however, Lowe’s travel insurance isn’t going to cut it, which is why Long set up a crowdfunding campaign to ease the financial burden. Our best wishes go out to Tom for a speedy recovery.
