These pictures show for the first time the terrifying moment Gerard Butler came close to losing his life while filming his movie.

Butler was seriously injured while filming the surfing drama Chasing Mavericks  in 2011 and shared  footage of the incident on Monday’s Good Morning America.

The footage shows him paddling on his board about to catch a wave, before he ‘wiped out’.

A huge wave can be seen crashing over Butler’s head, leaving him trapped beneath the water for almost a minute.

Mavericks: A huge wave can be seen crashing over Butler’s head, leaving him trapped beneath the water for almost a minute

Under he goes: As the wave comes towards him Gerard ‘wipes out’ and is swept under water

Going under: The wave completely overwhelming Butler, dragging him under water

Wipe out: Butler was caught in what’s called a two-wave hold down, which is where one wave knocks the person too deep to get to the surface before another wave hits; and held under for nearly a minute

As the Scottish star watched the huge wave crash onto him and his surfboard he said: ‘That’s crazy. Even when I see that it brings back memories.’

Butler was caught in what’s called a two-wave hold down, which is where one wave knocks the person too deep to get to the surface before another wave hits.

During the accident, the Scot claimed he had ‘visceral’ flashbacks and his mind ended up in a place where he ‘didn’t want it to be.’

‘It was like a Tsunami coming in and I was down and I just didn’t come back up really,’ the Scottish actor said.

Rehab: The accident caused Butler to enter rehab after becoming hooked on painkillers

‘I was down for that wave and I was down for a long time just turning turning and then the next wave came over and I began to think ‘Wow, I’m going to die making a movie.’

Chasing Mavericks tells the true story of Jay Moriarty a 16-year-old and his quest to surf America’s most  dangerous waves in Santa Cruz.

Butler produced the film and stars in it playing the part of Frosty Hesson, a local legend who took the teen under his wing and taught him to surf the waves.

‘When I heard about it I thought this is a perfect opportunity for me to learn to surf, ‘ the 300 star said.

 Back on board: Gerard has now fully recovered and is surfing again

‘This film explained to me how hard it is to become a surfer, how dangerous it actually is, how exciting it is,’ he added.

But he didn’t expect to come close to losing his life.

‘It was a pretty close call,’ the 42-year-old told UK talk show host Graham Norton earlier this year.

‘Somebody described Mavericks the other day as liquid hell because the water is very dark and very heavy and there’s just a lot of water there and it’s a much deeper surf spot than most places so it takes you further down – you can go down 25 to 30 feet.’

Maverick: Gerard Butler, seen leaving his hotel in new York on Monday for his appearance on Good Morning America, where he shared footage of the moment he nearly drowned while filming

But the accident didn’t prevent Butler from finishing the film.

‘I was going to go back that day,’ he told Norton. ‘I was actually in the ambulance and wanted to go back, which was a little crazy, but it’s pretty addictive.’

The Phantom of the Opera star checked into the Betty Ford Centre in February for three weeks after being injured in the surfing accident for the film.

The pain killers he was given during his recovery led to a dependence that he was determined to kick.

Quick change: After heading to the studios in a casual outfit, Butler soon smartened up, right

He said: ‘Maybe a stronger person wouldn’t have needed to go. When you hear the word rehab, you think, “He’s a mess, he’s f***** up.” But I’m glad I did it.

‘I’ve made a s***load of wrong decisions in my life. But I know I’ve made some right ones as well’