HALF MOON BAY, California (AP) — Gerard Butler is OK after being rescued from a treacherous California surf break known for stories-high waves.
The 42-year-old star of "Of Men and Mavericks" was held underwater Sunday afternoon when a set of waves rolled in. He was washed through some rocks while tethered to his surfboard. A safety patrolman on a Jet Ski swooped in and picked him up.
Competitive surfer Zach Wormhoudt told The San Mateo County Times newspaper that the actor was shaken up but not seriously injured. Butler was taken by ambulance to a hospital for examination and later released.
"Of Men and Mavericks" is about surfer Jay Moriarty, who died in a free-diving accident in 2001 when he was 23.
Butler's publicist Rupert Fowler didn't immediately respond to an email message sent Tuesday.
Wormhoudt said Butler had not surfed much before the movie but had made an effort to improve his skills for the film.
"Everything he was doing was within reason," Wormhoudt said. "We took, like, four to five pretty big waves on the head. Basically there's nothing you can do.
"It was intense for myself, and I've been through a lot out there."
