A man casually filming a day at the Oregon coast documented a terrifying moment from Mother Nature–a massive “sneaker wave” that crashed down on the beach right where he was standing.
The video comes courtesy of Steve Raplee, a business owner in Coos Bay in Southern Oregon, who was enjoying watching the surf from the safety of the sand when he glimpsed a giant wave heading his way. Everyone on the beach hightailed it to high ground as the forceful wave flooded the sand.
So-called “sneaker waves” can strike without warning, knocking people over and pulling them out to sea. They are responsible for numerous deaths. “For much of the West Coast, sneaker waves kill more people than all other weather hazards combined,” said Troy Nicolini, a forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Eureka, Calif., according to Live Science.
The videos serves as the perfect reminder that your mother was right when she told you to never turn your back on the ocean.
[H/T The Oregonian]
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com