Tahiti: Stuntman experiences 'near-death' experience surfing a wave by motorbike

An Australian stuntman miraculously escaped a near death experience by riding on a wave in Tahiti on a dirt motorbike.

Daredevil surfer and stuntman Robbie Maddison took on the wave after performing previous fearless acts, including back flipping on London's Tower Bridge and jumping the Corinth Canal in Greece.

"The thing that sticks with me the most after that whole experience was how physically demanding it was," Maddison told Surfer magazine.

"I don't think the photos or video show how physical it was. You can't see that when the wave broke right behind me, I honestly thought that might be the end of my life.

"I've never felt like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time more than I did right there. It was a near-death experience. At the end of the day, the images and footage say something pretty awesome, but the ferocity and how gnarly that thing was can't really be put into words."

Maddison who has been surfing since he was eight years old has also previously acted as a stunt-double for Daniel Craig in one of his James Bond films.