An ambulance was called out to Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland this week when a Spanish tourist nearly drowned, mbl.is reports. The man had waded into the water intentionally and was then dragged out by the powerful waves at the site. He eventually managed to get himself back onto the shore, chilled and agitated but otherwise fine.
Photographer Sandra Pawłowska, who witnessed the incident, says the man nearly drowned. He had gotten undressed and waded into the water intentionally while his friend took photographs of him. Sandra says families at the site led their children away so they would not see what was happening.
Reynisfjara is a black sand beach with basalt column formations that is a popular tourist site. The powerful “sneaker” waves at the site have previously claimed several lives, most recently last November, when a Chinese tourist died after being swept out to sea. The path to the beach has a plethora of signs warning visitors to stay well away from the water due to the dangerous waves.