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The Netherlands is in shock after the bodies of five surfers, all believed to be in their 20s and 30s, were recovered from the North Sea after a two-day search and rescue operation that led to many others grounded alive.
The dead are believed to include men and women, all experienced local surfers who are familiar with the stretch of coastline at Scheveningen, near The Hague, where the alarm was raised as winds rose as water sports enthusiasts prepared for the summer season.
Local people said about 10 surfers were in the water at Noordelijk Havenhoofd, just inside the Scheveningen harbor on Monday night, when they appeared to have been surprised by a sudden deterioration in the weather, including strong winds and waves.
“Some appeared to have been hit by a particularly large wave and were ejected by the foam in front of them,” said one viewer.
“There was foam everywhere. In these situations getting caught in the foam is like being caught in an avalanche. It is impossible to know where you are and what path there is. “
‘Very experienced’
Another said that one of the missing surfers had taught him a lesson a few days ago. “They were all very experienced people, in the water almost every day. They knew the sea around here from the inside out. ”
Emergency services reported strong winds and rough seas when alerted at 6:45 p.m. Monday, but said some people were still in the water who had to be warned to leave the search area immediately.
“A combination of a strong north wind and a strong ocean current due to the spring tide made this a very difficult and dangerous rescue operation,” said a spokesman for the lifeguard service, KNRM.
Although accounts vary, as many as seven surfers appear to have been pulled from the waves by rescue teams who used a low-flying helicopter to eject foam from the surface of the water so that four high-speed lifeboats could see those in difficulty.
Two of those who recovered from the water were pronounced dead after attempts to resuscitate them on the beach failed. Others were taken to hospital by air ambulance before the search was canceled when darkness fell.
Hopes faded
When the rescue operation resumed at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday morning, with family and friends watching from shore, hope was dashed that some of those still missing might have gotten out of the water on their own.
Two bodies were recovered in quick succession and a third was identified mid-morning, bringing the death toll to five.
The Hague Mayor Johan Remkes said that while it was too early to say what had caused the tragedy, there would be a full investigation.
In another incident, a 28-year-old man was killed while kite surfing off the Zeeland coast near Den Bosch over the weekend. Rescuers said he was caught in a gust of wind and collided with a concrete pole in a beach house.
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