Gerard Butler `hospitalised after surfing accident`

The 42-year-old actor was shooting Of Men And Mavericks in California when he is believed to have been trapped under water after being hit by a freak wave.

According to The Mirror, the British star was caught in a 12-foot swell at Maverick’s - the infamous surf spot south of San Francisco - before being rescued by a jet ski and whisked to a nearby hospital by an ambulance.

Eye witness surfer Frank Quirarte said, “Butler was held down for a solid two-waves and took four or five more waves on the head.

“He was then washed through the rocks on the inside before he was finally able to be plucked out.

“Even on small days the inside at Maverick’s can push 10ft plus and really tear you up.

“When they brought Butler in he had that 100-yard stare that surfers get after a two-wave hold [down] or near death experience.

“After almost 20 years at Mavericks I’ve seen a lot of it, but at least he was standing on his own two legs. He was then carted away in a waiting ambulance.”

He is thought to have been taken to Stanford Medical Centre and detained for observation overnight, although there has been no comment on his condition and his reps and production company Evil Twins Entertainment have also given no comment.