California beach tragedy blamed on 'sneaker waves'

[Peace Patriot]

76. "I am not sure how seeing the damned thing (the sea) will help...". That's easy!

You see the wave rise up, you RUN.

THAT'S why you're not supposed to turn your back on the sea. If you see it, you have a chance. If you don't see it, you LOSE those few seconds in which you might have reached safe ground.

You have surely seen people jump and dance around in comical ways when a wave unexpectedly hits their feet, while walking along a shore or standing on the sand. That instinctive reaction is what can save you if a "sneaker" wave is coming. You react. You run away. But if your back is to the sea, a "sneaker" wave can knock you down before you have that reaction. Also, if you are facing the sea, you can perhaps witness a "sneaker" wave or tumultuous conditions before a tragedy occurs--and thus be more alert and ready to run.

"Sneaker" waves can occur in apparently calm conditions, too, so we shouldn't rely on how the ocean is behaving--but slipping on rocks and those kinds of accidents are obviously more likely to occur if the sea is disturbed and throwing up big, crashing waves. Big, crashing waves? Don't go near rocks and other hazards. And AT ALL TIMES--calm sea or stormy sea--DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE SEA!