Hawaii's booming North Shore surf continues to wreak havoc this week, sending Australian world title contender Owen Wright to hospital.
Wright's status for the title-deciding Pipeline Masters is unclear after suffering a wipeout while preparing for competition.
The world No.5 was free surfing on Thursday morning (AEDT) at Banzai Pipeline, the venue for the Masters.
Wright became ill after several waves crashed onto him and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Compatriot and fellow Rip Curl surfer Matt Wilkinson saw the drama unfold from the balcony of their team house.
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He said three or four waves landed on Wright's head, adding that world No.1 Mick Fanning also came off second-best in the surf.
"Mick got one of them and dove off next to him, they both got smashed together for two or three more and Owen just let himself get washed in cause he was flogged," Wilkinson told stabmag.com.
"He came in and felt weird and couldn't really speak or anything.
"It was like his body was completely out of fuel - it was pretty scary looking."
According to stabmag, Wright's condition is good.
Earlier this week, Fanning was among fellow surfers who helped carry American Evan Geiselman out of the surf at Pipeline.
Geiselman, after nearly drowning in a wipeout, is expected to make a full recovery.
North Shore surfer Mikala Jones also needed 21 stitches to his face after wiping out at the Off The Wall break.
Wright's trip to hospital represents an ill-timed change of luck after he had shown outstanding form ahead of the Masters.
"The last few days' big swells, he's been the undeniable standout, getting the biggest 'nugs' (waves)," Wilkinson said.
"I don't know if he's even got his hair wet.
"He's just been paddling out, getting a couple of 'bombs' and coming in smiling."
The Masters invitational event was held on Thursday (Wednesday Hawaiian time), with Australian winner Jack Robinson and Hawaiian runner-up Jamie O'Brien earning starts in the main competition.
The surf conditions will determine whether the Pipe Masters start on Friday and Wright is scheduled to compete in the second heat of round one.
