Picture this. You’re sunning it up on a lovely beach on holiday when all of a sudden, a gigantic wave smashes right into you.
It sounds like the plot of a disaster movie, but it’s entirely true.
Last year, beach-goers soaking up the rays at Leblon Beach in Rio de Janeiro has the shock of their life when an 11ft wave careened into them.
Advert
Not only did it uproot sun loungers and umbrellas, but people too.
Caught on camera, the wave - which is known as a ‘rogue wave’ - swept through the beach and up onto the road.
The reason for its name is that it often provides no warning and can come from miles and miles out in the ocean right to the shore.
That day, a giant storm brewed in the Atlantic Ocean which caused 'tsunami' size waves.
Advert
The National Ocean Service describes these waves as ‘large, unexpected, and dangerous.’
The website adds: “Rogues, called 'extreme storm waves' by scientists, are those waves which are greater than twice the size of surrounding waves, are very unpredictable, and often come unexpectedly from directions other than prevailing wind and waves.
“Most reports of extreme storm waves say they look like 'walls of water.' They are often steep-sided with unusually deep troughs.
“Since these waves are uncommon, measurements and analysis of this phenomenon is extremely rare.”
The footage was shared on X abd showed the wave slowly building in the distance before crashing to the shore, knocking over the person with the camera.
Advert
One person commented: "Hiked the Lost Coast Trail in CA once. My biggest fear with that one was the potential for a sneaker wave.
"In cold water like that, if you get sucked out, you might not get back."
Another said: "The most terrifying aspect of this is your children were just along the gentle shore building sand castles and you were dozing off trying to read a book."
Advert
But it’s not the first time it’s been caught on camera.
Tourists in Menorca were swept away by a 'meteo-tsunami' wave that occurred in June after it erupted at the port of Ciutadella.
Footage of the incident showed tourists running away to find somewhere up high and safe to get away from the crashing waves.
Advert
Miquel Gili, an Aemet weather agency spokesperson explained that the meteo-tsunami was due to ‘pressure variations’.
And it’s not the first time it’s happened in recent months.
He said: "Pressure variations affect sea level. If the pressure increases, the sea drops; if the pressure drops, the sea rises.”
So maybe next time you go to the beach, aim for a bit of land that’s up high.
Britt Jones