Body-surfer credits 'Project Wipeout' for saving his life

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A body-surfer who broke his neck two years ago in Huntington Beach surf is back in Orange County supporting "Project Wipeout," which he says saved his life.

"I was literally a millimeter away from severing my spinal column," said Andrew Meredith.

Hoag Hospital's Project Wipeout Program teaches first-responders and swimmers what to do to try to prevent spinal-cord damage.

Two years ago, Meredith's life literally flipped upside down. The then-21-year-old was visiting Huntington Beach, body-surfing with friends.

"It was very quick," said Meredith. "When the wave shot me down, I did a head plant, basically. My head hit the ground. I heard a huge pop."

Meredith, holding his neck in place, made it to Tower 7, where he told lifeguards what happened.

"Within a couple of minutes, we told Andrew, 'Andrew, this is a very big emergency. We need to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible," said Tony Villalobos, Huntington Beach Marine Safety Officer.

The lifeguards knew exactly what to do.

"A lifeguard is behind him and holding his neck and his head completely in line with the rest of his body," said Villalobos.

His successful recovery is credited to Hoag Hospital's Project Wipeout Program.

Project Wipeout started in 1979 after Hoag's intensive care unit admitted five young people the same summer with neck and spinal cord injuries suffered at local beaches.

"Andrew just was millimeters away from being quadriplegic," said Dr. Jack Skinner, Project Wipeout creator.

"What I broke was the C1, and I also broke the T2 and T3," said Meredith.

Meredith wore a halo and neck brace for several months and then underwent physical therapy.

Project Wipeout is celebrating its 35th anniversary of providing simple tips such as "Don't fight a rip current, swim parallel to shore until free of the current; and also, "Don't dive head-first into the ocean."

"After about five or six years of the educational program, we noticed that there were less neck fractures from surfing," said Skinner.

Meredith supports Project Wipeout. He wishes as an amateur body-surfer that he had taken time to learn about ocean safety.

"I had one arm in front of me. Really you are supposed to have two arms. That's the safest way to do it," said Meredith.

"The secret is prevention," said Skinner.

"I am extremely grateful," said Meredith.

For more information: Project Wipeout Ocean Safety info