Surf’s up, everyone!

Waves usually follow a relatively regular pattern. This is why people feel comfortable setting up umbrellas and beach chairs — after a while on the beach, you’ve got a pretty good sense of where water is and isn’t going to be.

Well, unless a massive wave comes out-of-nowhere, as happened in this video. These beachgoers were surprised — and had their stuff washed away — after a major wave made its way to shore.

Thank goodness most phones are waterproof now!

A 3 meter (11 foot) sneaker wave that hit Leblon beach in Rio de Janeiro.pic.twitter.com/vPHdP2B0lT

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 7, 2024