A British surfer claims to have sailed into history by breaking the record for riding the biggest wave.
Daredevil Tom Butler, 29, took on a huge swell at The Nazaré in Portugal estimated to be more than 100ft tall (30m).
He says onlookers and surfing experts were confident he had beaten the previous record of 80ft, which was set earlier this year by Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa.
Tom, of Newquay, Cornwall, said surfing the wave was like ”running away from a raging bull”.
He must now submit photographic evidence to the World Surf League which will officiate the claim ahead of an awards ceremony in April.
Tom said: "It’s the biggest wave surfed in the world this season and could beat the current big wave world record.
"When I was going down I thought, ‘holy f**k, this is the fastest I’ve ever been’. Time kind of slows down, it’s instinct really. I was doing everything to hold my balance.
"That’s when you’re training comes in – I do lots of gymnastics training to help me keep balanced.
"It’s hard to say exactly how big it was, I’d say it was 20 times my height and I’m 6ft2. You don’t really see it behind you because you’re so concentrated on what’s ahead of you.
"It’s like running from a raging bull you don’t stop to think about how much it weighs – if you get eye contact then you’ve already failed.
"I reckon it was maybe 90 or even 100ft. I haven’t had a ruler handy while in Portugal but when I get home I’ll try to figure it out.
"It was a monster, I know that for sure.
"But many photo journalists who cover the sport here on a regular basis believe my wave surfed on Friday (December 14) could be taller than the previous world record wave."
Tom is no stranger to big wave surfing – in 2015 he made headlines around the world after a dramatic crash at The Nazaré.
He was left with a lung injury and bleeding from the ear but lived to surf another day and is now back in the same spot in search of monster waves.
His potential record-breaker was filmed on Friday when he said the conditions were just right.
He added: "I was under the whole peak of the wave. It was definitely one of the most committed lines and biggest waves I’ve ridden.
"I was completely underneath and there was more risk, there’s a lot more power and a higher mass of water."
Tom is a professional surfer and grew up surfing the waves at Fistral Beach near his home in Newquay.
Since then he’s gone on to become one of the world’s best surfers and is sponsored by GoPro, NineFeetTall and Sudeste Sports.
He spends his life surfing the best spots in the world and is a frequent visitor to the Nazaré, near Praia do Norte in Portugal snd known for producing massive waves.
He added: "I fell off here two years ago during a big wave event and the waves were nowhere near as big as this one. It’s nice to be back here. I didn’t really have any doubts.
"It’s more terrifying afterwards when you’re watching the wave back because, at the time, you are so focused in the moment. I’ve been coming here each winter for six years with my teammate Sebastian Steudtner and now we’re one of the longest standing teams.
"On Friday Sebastian had about five goes then I had my turn and that’s when the big one came."
With the hard part done, Tom will now submit his evidence to the World Surf League ahead of the Big Wave Awards in April.
He added: "The World Surf League are the people that give the official confirmation, they work with Guinness.
"No one knows how they measure it, it’s a closed panel. The decision will be made in April but it’s exciting. I’ve made the last five for Barrel of the Year but I didn’t win it.
"They don’t rank it, they just give a winner out. It will either be the biggest wave or not.
"There’s more time to go yet, the Atlantic will keep producing big waves in January and February. But it’s a real team effort, I had Sebastian and a lady called Maya Gabeira, she holds the women’s record for the biggest wave surfed."
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