Monstrous wave sweeps beachgoer off rocky outcrop into ocean, California video shows

A monster wave sneaks up on a beachgoer exploring a rocky outcrop on a Santa Cruz, California, beach, a video shows.

The video shows the towering wave slam down on the man, washing him off the rock and into the surging ocean below, at Bonny Doon Beach.

The 20-year-old from nearby Boulder Creek was swept away at 4 p.m. Friday, KION reports. He was treated by state park rangers and county officials say he’s fine.

Santa Cruz County officials posted the video Tuesday to warn beachgoers of hazardous surf.

“Sometimes waves will double up, and you’ll think you’re in a safe spot and all of a sudden a wave will just suck you in so quickly back into the ocean,” said Dan Perry, a state park lifeguard, KION reported.

The National Weather Service had earlier issued a beach hazards statement covering Sonoma County to Monterey County through 9 p.m. Wednesday, later extended to 9 a.m. Thursday.

Swells of 6 to 8 feet were expected by Tuesday night, with swells of 8 to 11 feet and breakers of more than 25 feet by Wednesday, the agency warned.

The swells were being generated by a storm near the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 7:51 AM with the headline "Monstrous wave sweeps beachgoer off rocky outcrop into ocean, California video shows."