Hawaiian lifeguard and sometimes commentator, Dave Wassel, was on the balcony of the Volcom house when he saw Joel Parkinson go over the falls backwards on a ten-footer at Pipe today. According to Volcom photographer, Andrew Christie, when Wassel realised Parko was in trouble, the off duty lifeguard tossed aside his phone and sprinted down the beach and dove into the water, eventually clasping Parko in his arms and ushering him towards shore.

Parko was apparently extremely groggy by this point, after being slammed into the reef on his back and the back of his head by the wave. Wassel later indicated that he reacted so dramatically because he feared Joel had suffered a head injury, which even in shallow water could prove to be fatal.

Fortunately Parko was eventually able to walk up the beach with the assistance of Wassel and a few others. According to observers he was shaken and had suffered significant deep tissue bruising to his back. The injury prompted Parko to withdraw from the Vans World Cup of Surfing at Sunset, but it seems likely he will pull on a singlet for Pipe.

We wish him a speedy recovery.