A group of foreign travellers were in grave danger on Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland last Monday. At least four travellers were caught in the powerful incoming surf, including a young Asian woman who narrowly escaped being swept into the sea by the undercurrent after the wave caught her. Kristján Guðmundsson, a tour guide who was some way off captured the event on film, while another nearby guide rushed to the woman´s rescue.
The photographs were shared on Facebook, where he commented that this is not the first time something like this happens. In 2007 an American woman drowned after she was swept into the sea by an incoming wave.
Reynisfjara beach with its black sands and dramatic cliffs and rock formatons is a popular destination for tourists. Tourists frequently get caught up in the moment, photographing the elements and enjoying the senseation and view, whch can be very dangerous. The local news site visir.is comments that a number of stories have been written in the last few years about travellers in danger on Reynisfjara beach. Foreign travellers frequently disregard warnings, and venture too close to the sea, not realizing how far up the beach the largest wave can reach.
Kristján, who captured the photographs from afar with a zoom lens, says that the weather was very bad this day, strong winds with high waves and a heavy surf on the beach. The Asian woman who was nearly swept to sea was not the only traveller in danger. Prior to the woman being caught in the surf another unidentified traveller was in even greater danger, and several others who ventured far too close to the sea and at least two others were “caught in the washing machine”, as he puts it.
Kristján notes that despite being lectured on the dangers by guides travellers seem determined on behaving recklessly. “People are trying to do their best, drivers, guides and everyone else, but people just don’t listen,” he says.
A group of foreign travellers were in grave danger on Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland last Monday. At least four travellers were caught in the powerful incoming surf, including a young Asian woman who narrowly escaped being swept into the sea by the undercurrent after the wave caught her. Kristján Guðmundsson, a tour guide who was some way off captured the event on film, while another nearby guide rushed to the woman´s rescue.
The photographs were shared on Facebook, where he commented that this is not the first time something like this happens. In 2007 an American woman drowned after she was swept into the sea by an incoming wave.
Reynisfjara beach with its black sands and dramatic cliffs and rock formatons is a popular destination for tourists. Tourists frequently get caught up in the moment, photographing the elements and enjoying the senseation and view, whch can be very dangerous. The local news site visir.is comments that a number of stories have been written in the last few years about travellers in danger on Reynisfjara beach. Foreign travellers frequently disregard warnings, and venture too close to the sea, not realizing how far up the beach the largest wave can reach.
Kristján, who captured the photographs from afar with a zoom lens, says that the weather was very bad this day, strong winds with high waves and a heavy surf on the beach. The Asian woman who was nearly swept to sea was not the only traveller in danger. Prior to the woman being caught in the surf another unidentified traveller was in even greater danger, and several others who ventured far too close to the sea and at least two others were “caught in the washing machine”, as he puts it.
Kristján notes that despite being lectured on the dangers by guides travellers seem determined on behaving recklessly. “People are trying to do their best, drivers, guides and everyone else, but people just don’t listen,” he says.
