Spectator Rescued at Oahu Surf Competition After Rip Current Traps Her Under Log

A woman watching the Eddie Aikau surf contest in Waimea Bay, Hawaii, on January 22 was rescued after a powerful wave pulled her from the crowd of spectators onshore toward the sea.

Footage recorded by Maria Fernandes shows a group running to rescue the woman, who is under a large piece of wood.

According to local news, lifeguards rescued more than 60 people after a powerful swell brought the surf up to 50 feet. An estimated 50,000 people attended the event, organizers said.

Luke Shepardson, a local lifeguard, won the surfing contest. Credit: Maria Fernandes via Storyful