Oahu’s North Shore got slammed Tuesday with the biggest surf of the season so far and it’s just begun.
Because of the huge waves a high surf warning is up until 6 p.m. Wednesday night.
On Tuesday, waves peaking at 20 to 25 feet kept lifeguards busy.
Swimmers, surfers and spectators all got a heavy dose of how powerful Mother Nature can be.
"It seems like everyone is jonesing for it. Finally the first big one of the season it’s great," said beachgoer Bill Habich.
Surf’s up on Oahu’s North Shore and so are the warning signs.
Lifeguards on shore and out in the water were up and down the coast advising people of Mother Nature’s power and unpredictability. But some learned that lesson the hard way.
The waves wiped out surfers and washed out spectators.
"It’s crazy! We all think we’re not going to get hit by the waves and we put our shoes a good distance away – a gigantic wave comes," said Chelsea Boisvert, who is visiting from Canada. Her belonging were soaked after a wave washed ashore.
"So we are going to try and keep our distance unlike we were and going to back to one of the beaches further down," said Canadian visitor Randy Rarrick.
Swimmers also found themselves in trouble today.
At Ke Iki Beach, lifeguards, firefighters and EMS responded to two people in distress out in the shore break.
"At that point the bodyboarder had lost his board, was getting smashed by the waves, couldn’t get out of the water, the mom went to run down to help him and getting in danger herself," said Ocean Safety Division Capt. John Hoogsteden.
They were helped to shore and thankfully not injured. And three swimmers at Laniakea are lucky to be safe on shore.
"They were recent arrivals to the island who went in or a swim and next thing you know they were stuck in the rip current a half mile from shore," Hoogsteden says.
In all, Lifeguards made seven rescues, two assists and over 1,400 preventative actions on the North Shore.
"As you hear every year people get hurt people get killed, you gotta be careful," Habich says.
This swell is only the start. Ocean Safety and lifeguards are preparing for a busy surf season.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
