Andrew Cotton, 38, from Devon, was tackling the waves at the extreme surfing hotspot when he was wiped out by the huge wave.

He is expected to make a full recovery despite fracturing his spine and being rushed to hospital in a neck brace.

Mr Cotton had travelled to Portugal for a surf retreat with friends in October.

Nazaré is famous for big wave surfing after American surfer Garrett McNamara set the world record for largest wave ever surfed there in 2011 and 2013.