Blake Johnston helped from water after breaking surfing world record at Cronulla Beach

Blake Johnston emerged from the surf at Cronulla Beach on Friday afternoon, exhausted and aching but with a world record to his name.

Key points:

The Cronulla local surfed continuously for 40 hours, enduring two days of 30-plus temperatures to raise money for youth mental health initiatives.

Johnston, 40, said he was “pretty cooked” while briefly returning to the beach earlier to speak with reporters after breaking the previous record as spectators cheered him on.

“I still have a job to do. I will go and give it a crack,” he said, before heading back into the swell.

“Everyone deserves to feel awesome, deserves to take care of yourselves.”

Blake Johnston said he felt “pretty cooked” moments after breaking the world record.(ABC News Breakfast)

Johnston was eventually helped from the water at 5pm on Friday, smashing by 10 hours South African Josh Enslin’s record of 30 hours and 11 minutes.

Hundreds of people gathered along the beach to witness the feat and offer support.

Johnston, a local surf instructor and former professional surfer, performed the gruelling task to raise money for the Chumpy Pullin Foundation.

The charity was set up to honour the memory of Olympic and world-champion snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, who drowned on the Gold Coast in 2020 aged 32.

Pullin’s wife Ellidy was among those on the beach supporting Johnston throughout the ordeal.

She said she had “goosebumps” all morning watching Johnston.

Blake Johnston’s support team Ellidy, Jenna and Lauren said he was carrying on Chumpy Pullin’s legacy. (ABC News Breakfast)

“I just know that Chumpy is out there and he would be right beside Blakey cheering him on, and both of them have that Viking energy about them,” she told ABC News Breakfast. 

“Chump’s motto was always ‘all in’ and that’s what we’re all about at the Chumpy Pullin Foundation.

“Blake is literally embodying Chumpy right now and helping carry his legacy.”

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A decade ago, Johnston’s father took his own life, fuelling his effort to shine a light on youth mental health and suicide prevention.

“This is to honour the anniversary of our dad … For Blake, it’s been like this crazy journey since we lost our dad,” brother Ben said.

“This is just something to honour that, and he really wants to actively show people that there are tools to deal with mental health.”

The plan was to raise $250,000 for the foundation, and more than $200,000 has already been donated.

Johnston’s wife Lauren said while she was relieved her husband was the new world record holder, she always knew he would accomplish the feat.

“I knew he was always going to get the goal that he set,” she said.

The father of two said earlier this week he wanted to inspire the kids he coaches in surfing, and provide them with practical tools and support to make it through tough times.

“I’m not nice to myself at times. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a great husband, father and friend,” he said.

The physical strain of 40 hours in the water is extreme, with the risks including sunburn, dehydration, possible blindness, infected ears, sleep deprivation, hypothermia, sharks and drowning.

Johnston was aware of the risks, but said he was prepared for the gruelling challenge.

“I thought I could just do it. I can run for 40 hours,” he said.

“But this way I can surf with people, bring in the community and make a difference for the future.”

Johnston also smashed his goal to surf more than 500 waves — at an average of one wave every six minutes — riding more than 700 waves in total.

He was taken to hospital after his record accomplishment and placed under observation while recovering.

AAP/ABC