On February 28, 2017, a drone captured dramatic moments that were taking place at Nazaré's Praia do Norte.
During one of the biggest swells of the Portuguese winter season, professional big wave surfer Pedro "Scooby" Viana catches an enormous wave, rides it and, almost near the end, loses control and falls in a dangerous zone.Lucas "Chumbo" Chianca drives the jet ski toward his friend and picks him up. The problem is that, a few seconds later, the jet ski capsizes, and both surfers are left by themselves in a life-threatening situation, surrounded by strong currents and rocky cliffs.
That's when Everaldo "Pato" Teixeira, on another jet ski, is called to rescue Scooby and Chumbo. He takes Scooby back to the beach safe and sound, and drives back and saves his fellow countryman, who was already near the rocks.
The episode was thoroughly documented in "The Big Ugly" by Maquina Voadora, a Portuguese aerial filming company. The short movie won the "News & Documentary" award at the 2017 Los Angeles Drone Film Festival.
