HALF MOON BAY, Calif. – Several people standing on a seawall watching the Mavericks Surf Contest were struck by an unexpected big wave, hurting some of them seriously enough to require medical attention.
It was unclear if anyone was missing or how many people were injured. Dozens of people were standing on the wall when the wave hit. Contest officials and San Mateo firefighters weren’t immediately commenting early Saturday.
Brandon Snider was one of those hurt. He said everyone’s concentration was on the contest when a 5-foot to 6-foot wave “wiped out the entire seawall.” He says it’s unclear how many people were on the seawall, but he believes some were injured seriously.
Snider was getting his knee taped up by a contest volunteer as he spoke to an Associated Press reporter. At least three others were getting medical attention.