'Jason Momoa, star of Aquaman, narrowly escaped death in a near-drowning incident while surfing during a perilous trip to Maui.'
Jason Momoa, the actor best known for his role as Aquaman, had a terrifying near-death experience in 2007 while surfing off the coast of Maui. The incident occurred near the infamous Jaws (Peʻahi) surf break, and Momoa was paddling alongside Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama.
The ordeal began when Momoa's surfboard leash snapped, leaving him separated from his board approximately 7 miles into the paddle. Conditions were harsh, with strong Maui winds and 10-foot Hawaiian waves. Exhausted and battered by the waves, Momoa was caught on the outer reef, a location he was unfamiliar with.
The brutal waves and strong currents left Momoa's body temporarily failing, and he nearly drowned. However, his foot hitting the reef allowed him to steady himself, and he managed to stay afloat. Thinking of his three-month-old daughter, Lola Iolani, Momoa feared for his life and mentally gave up while internally screaming.
Famed big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton eventually rescued Momoa by approaching him from behind on his board and they paddled through the waves to safety. The experience was so harrowing that it prompted Momoa to quit smoking three packs a day immediately afterward.
In more recent news, Momoa and his former wife, "The Cosby Show" star Lisa Bonet, filed for divorce in January 2024. They agreed to joint legal and physical custody of their two children, Lola and Nakoa-Wolf. Momoa has since moved on and is currently dating actress Adria Arjona, whom he went public with in May 2024.
Momoa has been using his work in the 'Dune' sequel to instill work ethic in his son, who is now joining the cast of the sequel. The actor feels that his survival instincts had failed during the surf incident, but he has undoubtedly shown resilience and determination in his personal and professional life since then.
References: [1] Momoa, Jason. (2021, October 25). SmartLess Podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett. [2] The Hollywood Reporter. (2021, October 26). Jason Momoa Reveals Near-Death Surfing Experience on 'SmartLess' Podcast. [3] TMZ. (2021, October 26). Jason Momoa Reveals Near-Death Surfing Experience on 'SmartLess' Podcast. [4] People. (2021, October 26). Jason Momoa Opens Up About Near-Death Surfing Experience on 'SmartLess' Podcast. [5] Entertainment Tonight. (2021, October 26). Jason Momoa Reveals Near-Death Surfing Experience on 'SmartLess' Podcast.
Despite the harrowing surfing incident in 2007, Jason Momoa, a celebrity known for his role as Aquaman, managed to show resilience and determination. During a podcast interview, he spoke about the moment big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton rescued him from the outer reef, sharing that he was inspired by entertainment figures like Hamilton.
