Surfing's 'Indiana Jones' stages unlikely photoshoot to save planet

The 'Female Indiana Jones' has travelled the globe raising awareness about the environment

Published: April 21, 2020 11:21 AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Editor

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London: It's a scene that seems almost surreal today - adventure filmmaker Alison Teal paddle surfing along the River Thames in bubblegum-pink swimwear, fishing out plastic rubbish from the murky waters. Image Credit: AFP

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The photos were taken just last month before anyone could have imagined that within weeks, half of humanity would find itself confined at home to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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Hawaiian "protest surfer" Alison Teal stands at the main gate of Buckingham Palace with her surfboard during a visit to London on March 6, 2020, to raise awareness on the need to combat climate change. Alison Teal, after tackling wastewater in Mexico, paddling the River Seine in Paris and a garbage island in the Maldives, travels the world with her pink "eco-friendly" surfboard to raise awareness about the environment. / AFP / Olivier MORIN Image Credit: AFP

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But their message remains valid: protect our planet. Image Credit: AFP

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Dubbed the "Female Indiana Jones" by Time magazine, Teal, who is in her 30s, has for years travelled the globe raising awareness about the environment and battling plastic pollution. Image Credit: AFP

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With a wide social media following, her aim is to "educate through entertainment" with spontaneous events in dramatic - if unlikely - spots, always in her signature pink, like her eco-friendly surfboard made from recycled coffee cups. Image Credit: AFP

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She wants to convey the warning that the world's oceans are in trouble and hopes to inspire youngsters to act. A series of photos featuring Teal are set to be published Wednesday to mark Earth Day. Image Credit: AFP

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In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has swept across the globe, the project has taken on new meaning for the adventurous American. Image Credit: AFP

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"Hopefully this is the time in history to recognise how interconnected we all are globally to improve our health for both humans and the planet," she told AFP from confinement at her home in Hawaii. Image Credit: AFP

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"It's severely tragic the impact that the virus is having on people's lives," she said. Image Credit: AFP

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But she added that she also saw "a ray of hope" with the impact the confinement was having on the environment. Image Credit: AFP

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"It makes me hopeful that we have the capability to work on improving our planet's waterways and air quality," she said in emailed comments. Image Credit: AFP

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Having surfed along the River Seine in Paris past the Eiffel Tower in 2018, Teal came to the British capital in early March to stage a series of shots. Image Credit: AFP

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The photos also show her night surfing and posing at London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace or following in the Beatles' footsteps on Abbey Road. Image Credit: AFP

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They add to an impressive portfolio the surfer has amassed in recent years. Teal has published short films on her blog and social media, showing her diving to retrieve plastic from the ocean or paddling through stretches of rubbish from the Maldives to Los Angeles. Image Credit: AFP

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