First person to surf a wave while on fire

On 22 July 2015, professional surfer Jamie O’Brien (USA) rode one of the world’s most massive waves, Teahupo’o, in Tahiti, French Polynesia, while on fire.

Jamie O'Brien is celebrated in the surfing community as a daring professional free surfer. He grew up in Hawaii and began surfing at an early age. Always seeking out new challenges, he responded to an Instagram message to "barrel surf" one of the most challenging waves on the globe, Teahupo'o in Tahiti, having been set alight. This notably thick, glassy wave is considered one of the most dangerous, even for experienced surfers. It is not only enormously powerful but breaks on a low-lying coral reef.

The "barrel" is the tunnel shape it makes as it curls over, virtually encircling the surfer, who has to weave along inside the giant tube of water. Jamie was supported by a team led by stuntman Riley Harper, and they spent a year in preparation for the event.

Despite all this combined experience, it was not a given that all would conclude well – but on the day everything synchronised perfectly.