Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle may have ridden world’s biggest wave

Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle seems to shrink tinier and tinier as a mountain of water swells behind him, building into what he says is the tallest wave ever surfed.

Burle uploaded a video of his surfing feat on a beach in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, according to the BBC, which reported the wave may have reached a height of 30 metres (98 feet) before it crested.

If the wave did reach 30 metres, the surf would be a world record, beating the current record set by Garrett McNamara in 2011, for surfing a 23.77 metre wave at the same beach in Portugal. Burle is waiting for Guinness World Records to authenticate his claim, the BBC reported.

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The Telegraph reported the St. Jude storm caused massive waves at the beach, giving Burle a big ride, but also knocking his companion Maya Gabeira unconscious and nearly drowning her. She broke her ankle and went to a hospital for treatment, according to the Telegraph.

Surfer Today published a picture of Gabeira smiling and giving a thumbs up after the incident.

Burle, who fared better in the injury department, told Surfer Today he didn't predict the potentially world record-breaking wave would land under his board.

"It was luck. We never know when we will be catching the wave. I still hadn't surfed any wave and everyone had already had their rides. Maya almost died," he said.