"The Exact Wrong Spot"

Interview with Lanson Ronquilio

On January 8, 2001, pro bodyboarder Lanson Ronquilio paddled out after the Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro contest and nearly drowned.  A wave drove him into the reef and he suffered contusions to his eyelid, cheek and chin. This is his account, as told to Neal Miyake of Bodyboarding.com on January 18, 2001.

NM: Tell me about what happened.

LR: It was right after the contest. Everyone blitzed over because the waves were really good. Maybe like 4-6 feet. Soon as we got out there I paddled for a little wave on the inside. I didn't catch it, turned around, and I guess just like a freak set came in, like 6- 8 foot. I was in the exact wrong spot at the exact wrong time.

NM: You said you tried to time it, though, to get under?

LR: Yeah, I was bailing. I was trying to time it, make sure the explosion went over me. But I mis-timed it and the lip hit me and drilled me straight into the reef and knocked me out.

NM: Ohhh. After that, you were unconscious of course, but everyone said that "Nugget" (Aussie Nathan Purcell) helped you out, eh?

LR: Yeah.

NM: And he pretty much gave you CPR in the water?

LR: I guess. He said he blew into me five times. Found me on the bottom, cruising on the reef.

NM: Oh my God. And Strider (Wasilewsky) too had help?

LR: Yeah, Strider I guess came over late after Nugget brought me up. I guess he was like pumping on my chest and kept me up.

NM: Heard the lifeguard said that a few more seconds and then... maybe no more.

LR: Yup! It was super close. Nugget said when he brought me up my pulse was super slow and super light. I was lucky I was able to barf out all the water and stuff, you know. Lucky Nugget even brought me up from the bottom; and that he was strong enough. Cause he said I was super heavy. I was lucky... really lucky.

NM: How long were you in the hospital?

LR: I was in the hospital for two and a half days. I got Medivac'ed to the ICU and then I stayed there overnight. And then they moved me to a regular room and I bailed out the next afternoon. And then stayed home and slept the rest of the week.

NM: Have you been in the water ever since?

LR: No, not yet.

NM: You looking forward to going in?

LR: Yeah, for sure! I'm just waiting for my neck (lacerations) to heal.

NM: All right. The world will be happy to know that you are OK.

LR: Thanks, Neal!