Girl Rescued After Sneaker Wave Sweeps Her Into Oregon Surf

A powerful wave knocked a girl off her feet and carried her into the surf at Cannon Beach, Oregon. Her father rushed into the water and lifted her out as her mother, who had also fallen, made her way back toward the child. The rescue was captured on video during the weekend before November 10.

Karin Kelsey Madsen filmed the incident while walking on the beach with her husband. She said the girl looked “like a rag doll” when she was pulled from the water. Madsen’s husband ran toward the family to check whether they needed help, and the girl’s mother said she was OK. The child’s condition was not clear.

The wave was described as a sneaker wave, which can surge unexpectedly farther up a beach than ordinary waves. Madsen said families and children were on the beach, and that large logs had been moving in the incoming tide. She was surprised that people were ignoring officials’ warnings to stay out of the water.

Safety guidance for someone caught in a sneaker wave includes staying calm, avoiding floating debris and not fighting the current. Instead, swimmers should move parallel to shore. Bystanders are advised not to enter the water after someone swept away, but to call 911, remain on high ground and keep watching the person until rescuers arrive.