Tributes Paid to Marcio ‘Mad Dog’ Freire After Big Wave Surfer’s Death at Nazaré

9th January 2023

Big wave surfing at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal

Praia do Norte at Nazaré has been listed by Guinness World Records for the biggest waves ever surfed Credit: Luis Ascenso/Wikimedia

The surfing world has paid tribute to Brazilian big wave surfer Marcio Freire after his death at Nazaré last Thursday (5 January).

According to RTÉ News, Freire fell into the water while surfing at the Portuguese swell regarded as producing the world’s largest waves.

Despite rescuers’ attempts to revive him on shore, Freire — known as ‘Mad Dog’ — was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 47.

It marks the first known fatal incident at Nazaré, where Irish-scene regular Andrew ‘Cotty’ Cotton suffered a potentially life-changing spinal injury in November 2017 — though he returned to ride the same waves three years later.

German big wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner holds the current record for the biggest wave ever surfed at 26.2 metres, set at Nazaré in October 2020.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

Published in Surfing

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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