Kelly Slater loves playing golf, and he’s quite good on the links actually.
But the greatest surfer of all time was almost taken out of the New Zealand Open – a golf tournament in which Slater is currently competing as a Pro-Am Ambassador – before it even began, due to sleep-walking stumble down some stairs.
“I almost died,” Slater told the Otago Daily Times about the incident.
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“I woke up and basically sleepwalked to the other room,” he continued. “I didn’t know where I was, eyes closed, feeling the wall, and then I fell down the stairs. You know when you jolt awake with adrenaline? I’m so lucky.”
The scare comes after Slater, 54, and his longtime girlfriend Kalani Miller recently announced the impending arrival of their second child together. The couple will be welcoming a girl this spring, who will join their son, 19-month-old Tao.
Related: Kelly Slater Is Going to Be a Dad (Again!) at 54 Years Old
Speaking about his growing brood, who joined him to the NZ Open, Slater told 1News:
“We got in, like, three nights ago, and it was straight into golf. We’ve just been in the local area here. Obviously, I was busy the last few days with everything going on at the tournament. They [Kalani and Tao] are getting a little time in. Our little guy is getting to jump in the pool. They have a heated pool and a little playground. He’s having a blast.”
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As for surfing in New Zealand, the World Surf League recently announced a swap, losing Jeffreys Bay, South Africa in place of the famed lefthander at Raglan on the Championship Tour. Will Slater be in attendance, even just as a spectator?
“Yeah, I’m not,” Slater told the newscasters, citing that he may be a little busy around the event window (May 15th-25th). “I’m having another child in early May, so…I think that’s a little more important in my world.”
Stay tuned here for Slater’s standing at the NZ Open.
Related: Where Does Kelly Slater Go When He Wants To Escape?