While surfing 20ft waves at Alligators on Hawaii’s North Shore on Wednesday, 32 year-old surfer Kirk Passmore wiped out and is presumed to have drowned.
The experienced big wave surfer was spotted surfacing briefly following the wipeout, but disappeared from view after the next wave steamrolled over, and neither Kirk nor his body have since been recovered.
Little hope remains of finding him alive, as his leash plug ripped out of his board and he was not wearing a safety vest.
Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
*Alligators is the same spot which claimed the life of big wave surfer Todd Chesser in 1997.