Beloved Australian TV presenter Dave Hughes suffers tragic shoulder dislocation while surfing the Gold Coast on New Year’s Day

"9 out of 10 level nerve damage."

We, here at BeachGrit, have regular conversations surrounding the abject danger of this surfing life and I don’t image that will change now that its 2024. It is important, a duty even, to inform adult learners of the various and sundry ways they can damage both their bodies and psyches whilst out for a playful dance upon the waves.

There are:

Surly locals, beginners on longboards, “experts” on longboards, SUP pilots, cranky sea otters, side eye when the wave of the set is blown, rock jumps, reef, sharp surfboard fins, three or more Brazilians, rip tides, sneaker sets, willful under-called “swell events,” flying fish, to not even mention the obvious ones like shoulder dislocations.

Well, the beloved Australian television presenter Dave “Hughesy” Hughes, suffered the aforementioned pop while enjoying Australia’s glorious summer. Taking to Instagram, the 53-year-old penned, “Happy New Year. Had my least sober NYE in 30+ years. Green whistle came after two hours of worst pain of my life, plus morphine and the rest of them. Shoulder dislocation while surfing. 9 out of 10 level nerve damage. Shout out to wife, Surfers Paradise SLSC, and Gold Coast medical professionals for their much needed help! Will be in a sling for a while, not sure when my next right-handed high five will be.”

The “Green Whistle” is street jargon for the painkiller Penthrox.

But in any case, I, like Hughesy, have had my arm violently ripped from socket many times while surfing. Tens upon tens upon tens. The latest, at Surf Ranch some many years ago. Unlike the Australian funnyman, I never whined or whinged or demanded morphine. I’d just tug on it until it slid back in and that was that. I will say, though, after that Surf Ranch rip, wherein I hit the bottom with shoulder, I became so furious that I went to the doctor who x-rayed etc. and then performed the Latarjet procedure which I preferred because it sounded French.

Rehab took forever, my shoulder is still cranky and weird but it has not popped out since.

Recommend 10 out of 10.