Axeman Kahu Woolley Makes Miraculous Comeback After Cardiac Arrest
Just four months after being declared clinically dead, Kiwi axeman Kahu Woolley is back on the chopping block this weekend - literally.
Touted as the best axeman on the planet, King Country farmer Jack Jordan set yet another world record on his way to achieving an incredible four-peat of the Stihl Timbersports World Trophy.
Described as the 20/20 cricket of international wood chopping, the quickfire event sees four disciplines taken on back-to-back, with no rest breaks between each, meaning the competition is only suited to competitors with superior fitness and endurance, as they make their way through knockout stages to the final showdown.
Jordan set a new World Record of 50.84 seconds, eclipsing his previous World Trophy record time of 52.53 seconds set in Milan, Italy in 2024.
The 29-year-old is also the current Stihl Timbersports World Champion and the NZ Rural Sports Person of the Year Supreme Award winner.
He beat 16 of the world's top axemen from 16 different countries to claim his historic feat.
"It's great to be able to come over here and succeed after all the training you put in at home, especially when you sometimes wonder what it's for when you have no competition, but this year, there was a lot of pressure in the final.
"Five years ago, no one knew about me, so hopefully I can keep on doing it. I'm grateful to be able to come over here and win these events so let's hope I can continue doing so," says Jordan.
Meanwhile, Matthew Gower from Whangamomona in Taranaki snatched victory in the final discipline to win his first ever world title, taking out the Stihl Timbersports Rookies (Under 25) World Championship, by just five hundredths of a second.
Gower, aged 23, set four national records and a personal best across the five timber sport disciplines in the rookies' section against 12 other competitors.
The title came down to the last of the five disciplines, with Gower pipping Australia's Awatea Moore Barrett by the slimmest of margins in the technical springboard event.
"It hasn't fully sunk in yet," says Gower.
"I'm honestly lost for words, but it feels so good to know everyone is watching at home and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the supportive community I have back in Taranaki. It was definitely worth the trip, it's been amazing."
The qualified diesel mechanic with a passion for hunting who also works on the family's Whangamomona farm, has represented NZ in age group tournaments for the past five years, and won the NZ Rookies championship for the first time in 2025.
