Atlantic storm produces monster swell in Nazare

An Italian surfer has taken on a giant 24 metre wave in Portugal during one of the biggest Atlantic swells of the year.

Big wave surfer Francisco Porcella lasted more than 30 seconds as he rode down one of the biggest waves ever to break at the famous Portugal wave hotspot.

Strong winter storms in the Atlantic created the giant swell.

US pro-surfer Garrett McNamara was on a jetski watching as Porcella dropped down the enormous wall of water.

"A hurricane force low (given the name Ewan) was rotating off the coast of Greenland this past weekend, and unleashed the strongest swell of the season toward Europe," McNamara told Surfline.

McNamara said he had watched his peers flock to Nazare after he caught the largest wave of all time at the spot in 2011.

"I’m just here helping everybody. Nazare is my child, my baby. You love your baby and all your friends wanna play with your baby and you wanna make sure everyone’s safe."