See prize-winning drone video of surfer biffing it on 70-ft. wave

Like a skier trying to outrun an avalanche, a Brazilian pro surfer tore down the face of a crashing wave nearly seven stories tall.

Pedro "Scooby" Vianna was estimated traveling at 45 mph when the wall of whitewater overtook him, throwing him into the churning water in a dangerous part of the break off Nazare, Portugal.

A friend of Vianna riding a personal watercraft tried to rescue Vianna, but he also was tossed by a wave. At that point, another big wave surfer, Everald "Pato" Teixeira, jumped on another Jet Ski and plucked the surfer and his friend out of the surf.

Nazare, Portugal, is a mecca for big-wave surfers. Here Australian surfer Jarryd Foster tests his skill at the Praia do Norte, or North beach. Nazare, Portugal, is a mecca for big-wave surfers. Here Australian surfer Jarryd Foster tests his skill at the Praia do Norte, or North beach. Photo: Armando Franca, AP Photo: Armando Franca, AP Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close See prize-winning drone video of surfer biffing it on 70-ft. wave 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The dramatic sequence was captured on video Feb. 28 by a drone flown by Daniel Neves and Pedro Miranda of Maquina Voadora. It has been viewed 20 million times.

The video, titled "The Big Ugly," won the News & Docs category at the recent Los Angeles Drone Film Festival. You can see other festival winners here.