Dramatic video shows family of six thrown out of boat after taking on massive wave
Horrifying footage showed a family of six recently violently thrown out of their boat after taking on a massive wave near Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive.
The scary moment was captured on video by a bystander who witnessed the boat moving toward the shore when it suddenly veered right into the giant oncoming waves. While it stayed upright at first, the boat quickly became engulfed, flipping over and sending the family into the water, including four children.
A group of surfers — including three-time Mavericks competition winner and big wave surfer Darryl “Flea” Virostko — saw what happened and quickly paddled to save the family.
“Crazy little situation yesterday. I saw the boat coming as I was outside dodging a big middle peak set,” Virostko wrote on Instagram. “He zoomed by me, and I saw he had his family on the boat. As I watched him drive straight into a big white wash, I knew they went down, and it was time to paddle in as quickly as possible to help save the family. “
“Unbelievable, these small children made it out of this boat wreck,” he added, pointing out that his buddy Trike also rushed in to help.
Virotsko wrote that both parents weren’t wearing lifevests and it was a challenge for the surfers to keep them from going under with the waves coming.
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He added, “The dad was freaking out asking about all the kids and there was a language barrier, so it was hard to understand. We got there were four kids, so we started yelling around the lineup. All kids got saved.”
A Santa Cruz Fire Department report said it responded to a “Confirmed Water Rescue” in the area.
“Due to the rapid deployment of Santa Cruz Fire Marine Rescue Swimmers, City Lifeguards, State Parks, and several Good Samaritan citizens on surfboards, all 6 victims were successfully rescued from this potentially tragic incident,” the department release read.
The family of six was rushed to the Santa Cruz Harbor, “where awaiting Central Fire crews and AMR units tended to the victims, eventually transporting all 6 to a local hospital,” the release added.
Virotsko concluded his post about how if felt good to “have a surfing community go into action together as one team.”
The department later recognized what it said were four of 10 surfers, some as young as 14-years-old, who came together that day to help the family of six and prevent a real tragedy in the water.
