THIS is the dramatic moment a daredevil surfer cheated death after becoming trapped – between a stone pier and a freak 30ft wave.

Terrified Jacob Cockle, 23, almost drowned when the monster wave emerged from nowhere and charged towards him at speeds of more than 40mph.

Frantic Mr Cockle struggled desperately to paddle to safety, but was caught in powerful currents that prevented his escape.

Clinging helplessly to his board, the student was tossed into the air "like a rag doll" when the wave – with an estimated mass of seven tons – broke over him.

He was flung into the surf and spent "ages" underwater before finally managing to overcome the currents and paddle back to shore.

Miraculously, Mr Cockle survived the terrifying incident earlier this month at Newlyn, near Penzance in West Cornwall, unscathed.

Speaking yesterday, from his home in Penzance, Mr Cockle said: "I couldn't believe it.

"I was stuck by the pier and I saw this huge wave rear up right in front of me. It was just massive and there was no escape.

"I thought that was it, that I was in way over my head. The wave was so powerful that I was underwater for ages but eventually I managed to swim to the beach."

Mr Cockle, a photography student who has been surfing since childhood, added: "I've been surfing almost all my life but I never thought I'd get into a situation like that.

"It was terrifying. It's a real reminder of how nature can throw up a surprise now and again."

His older brother Joe, 30, was taking pictures from the beach when he saw the giant wave approaching the pier.

Also a photography student at nearby Truro College, he said he watched helplessly as his brother was thrown by the surf.

"There were some really big waves so Jacob wanted me to take some photos of him surfing," he said.

"All of a sudden, this massive wave comes through and my brother was in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I saw the wave land right on him so I dropped my camera and ran to the water to see if he was OK.

"It's just so lucky that he got out unharmed."