The surfer who shattered his back on a giant wave and returned stronger: Andrew Cotton S3:E3

Andrew Cotton has made a career out of chasing some of the biggest waves on the planet. But when a brutal wipeout at Nazaré left him with a broken back, his future as a pro surfer was suddenly uncertain. The road to recovery wasn’t just physical – it was a battle of fear, doubt and sheer determination to return to the giant waves that nearly ended it all. In this episode, I talk to Andrew Cotton about his journey from a plumber in North Devon, UK, to a professional big wave surfer, the mental resilience it took to get back on the board after his accident, and how pushing limits – both in and out of the water – became his way of life. He also shares why he's passionate about the Wings for Life World Run, a cause close to his heart. Follow Andrew on Instagram. If you want to tell us about your own superhuman adventures, message us at superhuman@redbull.com. Head to instagram.com/redbulladventure for more superhuman content.

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The surfer who shattered his back on a giant wave and returned stronger: Andrew Cotton S3:E3 is an episode from How to Be Superhuman by Red Bull.

This episode is 30:58 long.

This episode was published on Mar 6, 2025.

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