This inspiring story is actually from last year (2015), but only just came to our attention. At the Argentinian National Surf Championship, five-time winner, Martin Passeri, was once again favourite to take the trophy. However, as his opponents took to the waves, Passeri stopped on the sand to everyone’s confusion.
The pro surfer had stopped next to Nicolas Gallegos, who was sat in his wheelchair on the sand. Gallegos has always wanted to be a surfer but was paralysed at 18.
It was the middle of the heat when Martin Passeri touched Gallegos’s shoulder and offered to take him out to catch his first wave. This inspirational act ended in Passeri’s disqualification from the contest, but that didn’t matter:
“I believe that was the best wave,” Passeri said, “and the biggest triumph of my life.”
This short video, produced by Reef and McCann Worldgroup Latam, recalls this beautiful moment.
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