[ramenbytes]

For those like myself wondering how a regular wave could do this, the article says it was something colloquially termed a "sneaker wave." Like a rogue wave, but on the shoreline. It also sounds like they all got hit by the wave, and only Charity survived.

Edit: National Weather article on Sneaker Waves: https://www.weather.gov/safety/sneaker-waves

Apparently the cold water and other complications make things worse.

[lqet]

Thank you, never heard of this. It sounds terrifying.

> Sneaker waves appear suddenly on a coastline and without warning; generally, it is not obvious that they are larger than other waves until they break and suddenly surge up a beach. A sneaker wave can occur following a period of 10 to 20 minutes of gentle, lapping waves. Upon arriving, a sneaker wave can surge more than 150 feet (50 m) beyond the foam line, rushing up a beach with great force.

> The force of a sneaker wave's surge and the large volume of water rushing far up a beach is enough to suddenly submerge people thigh- or waist-deep, knock them off their feet, and drag them into the ocean

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneaker_wave

[danbruc]

The second one in this video [1].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84EQv6_91dU

[lqet]

My god, just 2 or 3 seconds later and the person filming this would've been swept away for good.

[ramenbytes]

Woah. That helps visualize it, thanks.

[_yb2s]

Very common on the west coast… I recommend having any kids playing on an ocean beach to wear a life jacket, and adults too unless they are, say, very experienced reading waves and swimming long distances in the ocean.