During the Air Tahiti Nui Trials to decide the wildcard for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Michel Bourez’s brother, Kevin, smashed head-first into the reef during a brutal wipeout. The injuries sustained to his face required four hours of surgery to repair the multiple head fractures, as well as deep facial lacerations.

The rescue team helped rush Kevin to hospital following the wipeout.

“He’s in good spirits,” explained world number five Michel Bourez to the ASP. “At this stage things are looking positive. He will have the first of his post-operation scans this afternoon and they will know more tomorrow.”

The hard-charging local will be stoked on the fact that he not only escaped what could have been more severe consequences, but also that he still won his heat despite leaving early in an ambulance.

Unfortunately the hard-charging local was unable to compete in the next round, and Tuamata Puhetini (PYF) won the trials to earn the wildcard into the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Former Dream Tour surfer, Nathan Hedge (AUS), finished runner-up to claim the other wildcard for the event that starts this Friday, 15 August.

Here are some of the highlights from the trials: