18ft Shorebreak Sweeps Couple Out to Sea in Hawaii (Video)

Emergency calls came in around 7:35am at Ke Iki Beach, which lies between Ehukai Beach and Waimea Bay. A 76-year-old male and a 69-year-old female were near the shoreline, just dipping their toes in the water, when a wave sucked them out.

According to the news, waves faces were reaching 18 feet.

“The sister got swept into the current and the brother tried to save her and then both were in the ocean,” Roycie Kaululaau-Dennison, a witness, told KHON2. “At first there were bystanders telling us ‘Oh no they’re okay,’ but our instinct we knew something was wrong and the boys tried to save them. They grabbed her, they got her first and brought her to shore and we stayed with her to make sure she was okay and stabilize her.”

Lifeguards don’t begin patrolling the beaches until, 8:00am. So, the good Samaritans on the beach were the first to help the couple in the water. Once Ocean Safety officials arrived, rescues were made and both were taken to the hospital in serious condition.

“Ke Iki Beach is one of the most dangerous beaches on the island,” Ocean Safety Lt. Jesse King said. He added that, where there’s wet sand and high surf, stay away:

“That’s an indicator that it’s a dangerous place to be, and unfortunately, that’s what happened with these two individuals this morning, they intended to get their feet wet, they got knocked off their feet and pulled in with the receding surges.”

Last year, in an eerily similar situation, two individuals died at Ke Iki Beach when they were also swept out to sea early in the morning, prior to lifeguards being on duty.