ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
A bore tide stranded a man on a rock off Beluga Point Wednesday night, prompting a dramatic rescue by firefighters.Ryan O'Connor climbed the rocks several times before, but says he could always predict the tide. The water came up to his waist within minutes, but rescue teams moved quickly to save him.
When the high water rolled in, O'Connor scrambled to get to the highest point possible, but soon the water washed over the rock he was standing on. The cold water exhausted him to a point where he couldn't hold on much longer.
At that moment a water rescue diver grabbed on to O'Connor and pulled him to safety.
"I learned that the water is not a joke -- there is no joke with the tide and facing the water, because it might look like a nice little beach and a place to play, but it comes up fast and it's dangerous," O'Connor said.
"Today is actually one of the highest tides of the year," said rescue diver Scott Luna. "It was rising very, very quickly; by the time we got here, it was to his waist. We had people out on the rock throwing bags, trying to get to him."
O'Connor was treated for hypothermia at the scene. He warmed up quickly, but said he felt cold to the core.
Contact Ashton Goodell at agoodell@ktuu.com
