(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Gerard Butler has described his near death experience as "profound".

The actor revealed what happened during the scary incident back in February. Gerard was filming a scene in the surf when he was caught out by freak waves.

"It was intense enough to make me spend the night in hospital. It was pretty tough," Gerard revealed to Access Hollywood. "But it was amazing, I know that sounds weird, but it was amazing and a pretty profound experience."

The actor was a surfing novice before starting work on Chasing Mavericks. This made the experience all the more terrifying as he didn't know what to expect.

"[I remember] a lot. I can remember most of it. We got caught in the wrong place by some pretty big waves for a long time and I just went down," Gerard revealed. "I didn't seem to come back up, and then when I did, it just kept taking me down. No one it seemed could get to me and I was right at the rocks."

Gerard's recovery from the accident was made all the harder by the events that followed. He entered rehab to follow a pain-management program after reportedly relying too heavily on prescription medication.

"[How did you cope with recovery?] Well, as you do," Gerard continued. "These surfers do it all the time that's why they are incredible people." (C) Cover Media