A small business owner has explained why swimmers should never turn their backs on the ocean after experiencing a terrifying video of a wave crashing into beachgoers in Hawaii.
California-based surfing expert Matt Moore was visiting a north shore beach in Oahu, Hawaii, when he and other beachgoers witnessed three men being hit by a wave in a rocky area on November 29.
Two of the swimmers went underwater, while another stood on the rocks before the wave rushed over them.
The three swimmers slowly got up after the wave passed, but were attacked by a second wave less than 10 seconds after emerging from under the water.
The two men closest to the wave immediately went underwater, while the third managed to keep his head up and float away.
Both swimmers hit hardest by the wave failed to get out of the water after the second wave, but the third person managed to get through all four waves in the video.
Once the two swimmers disappeared into the water, an unknown woman suggested that she and Moore call for help.
All three swimmers were injured after the incident, but they managed to get out of the water alive.
A surfing expert captured footage of three swimmers being pounded by waves on a north shore beach in Oahu, Hawaii, on November 29.
Honolulu Ocean Safety shared the video on social media and confirmed the incident occurred between Sharks Cove and Ke Iki.
The government agency added that a beachgoer had already called 911 while Moore was recording.
“The video speaks volumes about how dangerous it can be,” Honolulu Ocean Safety said of the large winter waves.
“Thankfully these three young men went home tonight, but they were seriously injured,” she added.
Moore posted another video about the Hawaiian beach incident yesterday and how he captured the footage on December 2.
“It was just a short deal where we were filming and looking at waves, and I turned around and saw them,” Moore said.
“We saw the big set action come over their heads and almost took them out… It’s a good lesson for anyone visiting Hawaii to be careful.”
The surfing expert noted that all three swimmers were locals and that he is happy to know that all was well.
Two of the swimmers closest to the waves remained underwater, while the other stood on the rocks
The North Shore in Oahu, Hawaii, is a popular surfing destination in the winter and is known for producing powerful waves.
Waves in the light areas of the Shore usually have waves of 2 to 4 feet in summer and between 6 and 8 feet in winter.
Advanced areas of the North Shore usually have waves of about 4 to 6 feet in the summer, but can be as high as 3 to 5 feet in the winter.
The North Shore waves can also be extremely dangerous and fatal incidents have occurred many times in recent years.
Oklahoma resident Susie Jett lost her life last October after being swept out to sea by a wave at Kei Iki Beach on the North Coast.
Jett’s daughter Laura Rich and California resident Bryan C Kunic were also swept out to sea.
Rich recovered from her injuries, but Kunic was pronounced dead at the scene.
The late surfing legend Tamayo Perry died in June on the North Shore from a shark attack.
Perry, who appeared in Blue Crush and a Pirates of the Caribbean film, was found on Mālaekahana beach missing an arm and a leg.