butlerpt2062511_02_X17230WM.jpgWhile filming a surfing scene for his new movie, Of Men and Mavericks, Gerard Butler was taken down by a wave and trapped by several more until he was finally rescued by another rider on jet ski.

Butler was shooting in Northern California with pro surfers Greg Long, Zach Wormhoudt and Peter Mel when the group got more than they bargained for with a very large set of waves. Though we snapped him paddling out several times last summer, Butler is not an experienced surfer, and Wormhoudt noted that the Scottish star had been working hard to improve his skills and the group was avoiding the larger waves that day.

"They were steering clear of a set of waves in the 15-foot range when a much larger set loomed and broke in front of the four of them," Wormhoudt told local news reporters. "Butler was held down for a solid two waves and took four or five more waves on the head," fellow surfer Frank Quirarte added on his ESPN blog. "He was then washed through the rocks on the inside before he was finally able to be plucked out."

The 42-year-old actor was taken to Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, and he was released shortly after that. His rep tells Entertainment Tonight, "He's fine. Very scary. For precaution, we all wanted him checked out after it all happened. Came out with flying colors." Whew! Good to hear.

See photos of Gerard surfing earlier this year in our gallery below.