Man swept to death by freaque wave in port of Ondarroa, Spain

When I first saw the title of this news from news.ninemsm.com.au:  "Man swept to death by freak wave", I thought that must be an old news.  But I was wrong, the news was posted online at 3:29pm January 29, 2014, and here's the synopsis:

A man swept to his death in Spain saw the wave that killed him for only a split-second before he was washed away, chilling video of his final moments reveals.

Please visit the news site to see the "chilling video" for details -- the waves in the video are truly frightening!

Here are some of the the detailed descriptions:

An unnamed 43-year-old Senegalese man was walking on the pier in the port of Ondarroa when he was caught out by a freak wave in stormy weather just before 11am local time on Tuesday, El Pais reports.

The man appears to be unaware of his danger as a wall of whitewater explodes over the top of the concrete pier, the video shows.

He then turns to run as tonnes of water come crashing down but it is too late.

Spain's Red Cross reportedly launched a rescue boat to save the victim from the raging seas but he was declared dead after CPR failed to revive him.

Another happening, another tragedy!  This one just appears to be unavoidable when all of a sudden  "a wall of whitewater explodes over the top of the concrete pier."  All kinds of things happen in nature, unexpected, unpredicted, as well as unprepared, it is just an act of nature caught people on the pier without warning.  It can happen any time, any place, somehow!

Update:

In this UK Dailymail article there're video and pictures of this tragic case showing the last moments of the man who seemed unaware of the danger he was in until it was too late! The article is entitled:
Caught on camera: Chilling moment man tried to flee wall of water which swept him to his death.
(Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2548341/Chilling-video-mans-final-moments-swept-ocean-freak-wave.html#ixzz39W7IF3GG).

Happened at UK Plymouth

Incredible as it may seem, another happening at UK Plymouth as reported in the Plymouth Herald:

AN ANGLER who is feared to have been swept out to sea by a freak wave has been described as a loving son, brother and uncle who will be sorely missed. 

Rescuers searching for Michael Bindon after he was swept off the rocks in Polzeath on Wednesday have called off a search operation and are now waiting to recover his body. 

The 23-year-old from Efford loved fishing and would often go several times a week.

So the happening seems following the similar script of "swept out to sea" from the rocks as shown in the picture. We know at least he was doing what he loves. May the beloved young angler rest in peace.

Westcountry's destructions by huge waves

I just came across this two-week old article from this UK news site that paints a devastating picture of damages caused by huge waves:

Towering waves which pounded the Westcountry yesterday have left trail of destruction, battering historic harbours and washing whole beaches away.

Some of the region’s tourist hotspots were left counting the cost after 30foot-high waves pummelled seafront businesses.

Gigantic waves swept away the balcony of a popular beach-side restaurant at Trevaunance Cove, near St Agnes.

At Porthmeor in St Ives, beach huts were wrecked and decking for the cafe overlooking the beach suffered substantial damage.

Meanwhile the beach at Whitsand Bay in South East Cornwall resembled a lunar landscape after its golden sands were swallowed by the storm.

The winds, whipped up by a powerful storm in the Atlantic, hit the Isles of Scilly first where harbourmaster Dale Clark described giant waves washing over the quay.

“A thick wall of water was washing over the entire quay. People on the islands were saying they had never seen anything like it,” he said.

Mr Clark witnessed the ferocity of the storm from his office on the quay as it was too dangerous to leave.

“The entire building was vibrating and shaking.

“You could hear the roar of the waves as they washed over the wall. The whole quay was just awash with breaking waves.”

The tempest had left the quay, a lifeline for the islanders, severely damaged, he said, and work was now under way to make it usable. At Portreath harbour, an iconic stone hut has been smashed to pieces by huge waves.

The century-old structure could not withstand the battering of the monster swell estimated to have reached more than 30 feet in height, with its full force felt after almost 100 tonnes of the harbour wall fell into the sea.

An iconic natural rock formation shaped like a giant doughnut was destroyed by freak 30ft waves at Porthcothan Bay, which is famed for its picture-postcard beach and caves, including a massive stone archway.

But the ferocious storms battered the beloved landmark and it collapsed into the sea.

Locals say their idyllic beach, nestled between Falmouth and Padstow on the North Cornwall coast, will never be the same.

Resident Tamsin Swindells, 39, said everyone was devastated by the loss of the stone archway, known locally as The Anchor or Jan Leverton’s Rock.

She said: “It’s just a pile of rocky rubble now – it looks like a demolition site. The beach just won’t be the same without it; it’s completely changed.”

The damage was not confined the coastline with hundreds of properties across the region succumbing to storm damage. More than 100 residents remain trapped in their village after floods have left all access roads under three feet of water.

Muchelney, which lies in between Taunton and Yeovil, has been cut off for four days after the roads flooded.

Residents can now only able to leave the village by boat – the water is so deep not even a tractor can make it through.

This article depicts an unbelievable horror happening entitled "Huge waves leave region coastline changed forever" was published in Jan. 7, 2014 issue of  Exeter Express and Echo by Lyn Barton and Toby Meyjes. the estimated 30' high waves is not particularly high from comparing with other possible large waves, but the devastation clearly much more extensive than many large waves can cause. The local residents are admirably reacted with reasonable calm, took it all in a stride.  What else can people react in a seemingly an act of God??? May God bless them from here on.

Happened on Sandinero beach, Santander, Spain

Here's a picture with a caption that states "One moment the woman is dancing on the beach and the next she is swept away by a giant wave". This not very clear picture was published in www.independent.co.uk news section this morning entitled "Dancing woman swept away by giant wave on Sandinero beach, Santander Spain". The title pretty much tells the whole story. The good news is that she's obviously fine, um, not seriously hurt. The article has this opening line:

Mother Nature soon proved her power to a woman who appeared to taunt an incoming wave with a series of hip-wiggling dance moves.

and this details:

The woman, who it is believed was not seriously hurt by her experiences, no doubt regretted delaying her exit from the Spanish beach. Bypassers watched as the tidal surge swept her off her feet at Sardinero Beach in Santander.

Her head is visible bobbing up and down along the waves as she is swept along the beach, with one passer by vainly offering her an umbrella. Despite the apparent gravity of the footage, she had a lucky escape and emerged from the water with just bruises, it is understood.

What can we learn from this story? Do NOT ever attempt to taunt Mother Nature's nature power, of course! If the same thing were happening all over again, anything can happen in a swept off, the dancing lady may not fare as lucky as this time again!

Wait! I just found another Metro article with more details and a video that has much better picture of the whole thing. Please go there and take a look at what had happened.

Happened in Malaysia coast

The above picture shows a calm, peaceful beach scenery near Georgetown on the west coast of Malaysia. But as the saying goes "Seeing can be deceiving" for here is what had happened that's reported in the Malay Mail with a title of "Woman drowned, 2 men still missing after overcome by huge waves":

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 18 — A woman drowned while two men are still missing when they were overcome by giant waves while bathing at Pantai Kerachut, Teluk Bahang here today. Southwest district police chief Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zain said in the incident at 4.17 pm, the three were among 24 workers of a factory in Prai, who had gone to the beach for a bath after participating in a character-building camp at Taman Negara Teluk Bahang. “Five were overcome by the huge waves but two, both women, were saved by members of the public; they are receiving treatment at the Penang hospital,” he told reporters here today.

What a tragedy when they simply "gone to the beach for a bath" and were overcame by a huge wave! Apparently the wave was unexpected and unpredicted. So a huge wave can come without notice even on a nice peaceful tourist beach!  Just looking at a picture like the above, one can hardly imagining a "huge wave" coming.  But it can happen!  Count our blessings when it did not happen when we are out there walking on a nice beach.  Never, ever, let your caution and guard down!

Don't risk it - stay away!

 In the Scottish Arbroath Herald yesterday, they published the above picture and an article entitled "Don't risk it - stay away!":

Walkers and thrill seekers using coastal areas in Arbroath are being urged to take extra care in the recent stormy weather which has brought with it huge waves.

Winter storms, strong wind and exceptionally high tides have seen the local coastline take a battering with large waves, which are strong enough to pull people out to sea.

On Thursday, Danger Point at the Fit O’ The Toon was particularly bad hit but despite signs warning people to stay clear in bad conditions, it didn’t stop several youngsters from running towards the waves and playing dodge.

One concerned eye witness at Danger Point on Thursday said: “I was quite concerned to see a group of young teens put themselves at risk by jumping in and out the waves as they came to shore.

“There have been several deaths with innocent souls being swept away by the power of rogue waves in the past few days, across the  UK shoreline.

“There are clear warnings to people using the Point in stormy weather but can’t help worrying that one of these days an innocent game of dodge will result in a local youngster losing their life.

“It’s perhaps time for the local authorities to highlight this during these stormy times.”

The local RNLI crew had to brave the stormy conditions before Christmas when they were called out on a shout on December 23 in high seas to rescue a vessel in distress.

And an Arbroath RNLI spokesman explained: “The message we would like to put across is that the stormy conditions can be extremely dangerous and we would urge anyone going to the coast to take extra care accordingly. 

“In particular avoid exposed places where large waves could easily sweep you off your feet.

“In other parts of the country two people have tragically died recently in separate incidents having been swept out to sea. This sadly demonstrates just how dangerous these conditions can be.”

Meanwhile Ross Greenhill from the local HM Coastguard added: “HM Coastguard would like to remind the public that whilst the sea can be a spectacle it can also be extremely dangerous often with little warning.

“In the last few weeks there have been a number of deaths attributed to individuals who were too close to the waves during severe weather.

“The risk is not just being swept away by waves but is also what is in the water and being struck by this could lead to serious injury.

“Our officers along with lifeboat crews and firefighters have to risk their lives in order to protect you if you get into difficulty.”

There are some sound advises in there. I guess there are people who would not allow "fear" to interfere with there adventurous spirit until it is too late.  Regardless, sound advises are still very much welcome and needed, even it might fall on deaf ears.

Big waves engulf Tragumna sea wall

Meanwhile a world over in Ireland we see this big wave picture:

and this report by Jackie Keogh in the Southern Star:

THE coast road at Tragumna Beach was completely closed on Monday morning because 20ft high waves posed a potential danger to life and limb.

Notices were also posted calling on members of the public to heed the warnings issued by the Coast Guard to stay away from the coastline and to avoid exposed coastal and cliff paths during stormy weather.

The Coast Guard issued an orange weather warning for counties Cork, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford because the gale force south to southwest winds were resulting in gusts of 100 to 120km per hour in exposed coastal areas.

Throughout the weekend the combination of gale force winds, surging seas, high Spring tides and heavy rainfall presented an ongoing threat to West Cork towns, particularly Skibbereen and Bantry, but on this occasion they avoided flood damage.

In Tragumna, however, 20ft high waves battered the coastline and resulted in the removal of the stone facing on the sea wall, as well as the partial collapse of the road into the sea.

Members of the local Toe Head Coast Guard station were vigilant throughout the weekend and remained on duty in case of an emergency. 

They reported that the occupants of one car had a lucky escape: the occupants had to abandon their vehicle and run to higher ground after their car was buffeted to the right and then to the left by freak waves.

Tragedy on the NSW south coast

The Canberra Times reported this sad news. The culprit of this sad case is not freaque wave but an equally dreadful rip-current: 

A distraught wife has told how her husband died saving their two young sons from drowning on the NSW south coast, on what should have been the last week of a family holiday.

British man Andrew Priestley, 44, managed to keep the two boys - Matthew, 12, and Daniel, 10 - afloat long enough for others to reach them and drag them to safety. But he was unable to stay above the waves himself and his body was later found floating face down.

Priestley, a businessman from Market Harborough in Leicestershire, had been on a three-week driving holiday from Sydney to Melbourne with his wife, Amanda, and their children when they decided to stop at Burrill Beach, near Ulladulla.

Mrs Priestley said the tragedy began to unfold about midday on Friday, when her husband and the two boys entered an inlet leading to the open sea for a swim while she stayed on the beach with their eight-year-old daughter, Amelia.  

When Matthew and Daniel began to be dragged underwater by a rip, they started to scream. Priestley, who was in the sea himself, reached the boys, held them above the waves and lifted them onto a surfboard, allowing other beach users to pull them to safety.

By the time they came back for Andrew, he had been washed away by these terrible rip currents. His body was found face down in the water. "He died a hero.'' according to his father-in-law. Nevertheless it seems to be an unnecessary loss of an ordinarily could be avoidable case, what a waste!

"I didn't see this huge wave coming."

Here's a picture of  freaque waves damaged vehicle according to this story reported by Lisa Cottrell in ThisisCornwall.co.uk. The driver of the car was miraculously escaped:

A FREAK wave swept a man in his van into a flooded river before plunging the vehicle into the sea below.

Tony Martyn was driving along the seafront in East Portholland on the Roseland when the unexpected wave hit on Thursday afternoon.

It carried the Citroën Berlingo into the river from which he escaped minutes before it was tossed into the sea below.

He said: "A rogue wave came out of nowhere. There was a loud bang and the van and I were flipped straight into the river."

The van was dropped onto its side in the swollen river, making it impossible for Mr Martyn to open the door.

He said: "I had to escape through the window. I got away from the van as fast as I could as I was worried that the van would be carried into the sea."

Minutes after Mr Martyn escaped from the vehicle, it crashed into the stormy sea three metres below.

Fierce waves then battered the vehicle, smashing the roof down, ripping a door and the bonnet off and rendering it scrap.

Witness Lucky Kaur said: "I saw a car being lifted and dropped straight into the ocean - it was deeply shocking. I called the emergency services and the whole community worked with these courageous volunteers to check everyone's whereabouts, in case another vehicle had been similarly pulled into the sea. The waves and wind were extremely high but tragedy was averted."

In severe weather waves frequently break on the East Portholland road. Mr Martyn said: "I was careful to check the sea but I didn't see this huge wave coming." 

Here again, we see the effect of a freaque wave but not what, why, and how was its happening!  O well just be happy that the driver escaped so he was able to tell us that he did not see this huge wave coming!

Waves hitting Euro-coasts

The news my friend Michel Olagnon referred to me yesterday is now reported in detail in Australia's news.ninemsn.com.au , complete with the video. In the same report they also reported this following picture showing a wave hits the lighthouse of Les Sables d'Olonne, France as a storm brings strong winds on January 6, 2014. (Getty)

It's certainly a beautiful lighthouse standing against the assaulting ferocious waves. And also this one:

which shows waves batter the sea wall at Wimereux, France, on January 3, 2014. High tides and strong winds have brought flooding to areas of the UK and northern France. (Getty).

The article quotes Ed Temperley, the editor of wave forecasting website Magicseaweed.com with these useful advises:

"The biggest rideable swell will be at Nazare in Portugal, but some of the coldest and most dangerous will be in Ireland. The Basque Country will be really good as well for a select paddle crew.

"Despite the media coverage big wave surfing gets these days it is still an incredibly dangerous and frequently deadly sport performed by true professionals who dedicate their lives to surviving the horrific forces wiping out and long periods being held down under water."

Well said!

Happenings at Biarritz, France

My friend, Michel Olagnon of Ifremer of France, sent me this link to a video that happened in Biarritz, in the late afternoon of January 5, 2014: http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2014/01/06/video-noyade-ils-filment-la-vague-biarritz_n_4548392.html. The video has an interesting title that translates as :"Biarritz: they film the wave that killed two people." It seemed that they were filming the occasion when tragedy happened. 

Michel kindly summarized the case as:

3 people went on a forbidden footpath, 2 were washed away, one was recovered alive on the beach a few minutes later, the last one is still missing.

Now he just informed me also this:

. . . another person seems to have been taken away from a bench on a nearby beach yesterday night, and two had already been drowned on a wharf last Sunday. Buoy measurements just off Brest gave 8m Hs, and it seems that the whole French Atlantic coast had such heights. Many shorelines got hurt, though the tide is not exceptional.

At Biarritz, where the accident took place, another wave smashed yesterday night the windows of the room of the one-armed bandits machines at the casino (built in 1929).

So that are all happenings in a coastal location southwest of France.  Are they freaque waves?  Michel did not think so, though it's all unexpected. As usual we wish to extend our sympathy and prayer to the lost souls. Hope people don't ever try to brave the "forbidden footpath" again, no matter how healthy and strong they are!

Frozen Antarctic stuck global warming researtch ship

First picture of note of 2014: a rescue ship was stuck by ice in the Antarctic that was on her way to rescue another ship that was stuck by the ice earlier. The first stuck ship was carrying global warming scientists on their way to gather evidence that the Antarctic ice was supposed melting because of global warming, instead they themselves become solid evidence that there's clearly no global warming in the Antarctic as they expected.  The photographer of this picture is very innovative, it shows the frozen ice like a frozen wave -- Hokusai style!

What I am wondering is whether or not the scientists on the stuck ship still stick to their believe that global warming is going to melt the Antarctic ice???