Mikey Wright sprints across the beach to assist a swimmer in distress on the North Shore of Oahu. Photo: @mikeywright_69
Surf on the North Shore is menacing each winter. A point so obvious it goes without saying. While surfers are mostly well aware of the razor-sharp reefs, unwieldy ocean, and strong currents, the fury is equally threatening to casual beachgoers. A single wave can make an otherwise calm situation life-threatening in an instant. The North Shore Lifeguards do an unthinkably effective and heroic job keeping beachgoers safe on one of the most dangerous stretches of beach in the world, but it’s pretty challenging to be everywhere at all times, and on occasion visiting pro surfers have sometimes doubled as citizen-lifeguards when disaster strikes. In 2016, Kelly Slater famously rescued a toddler from a rogue wave, and yesterday, pro surfer Mikey Wright sprung into action to assist a swimmer in distress.
The North Shore Lifeguard Association posted the following on their Instagram:
“Amazing rescue by @mikeywright69 and the public. This lady is so lucky to be alive. The North Shore surf can sweep up and grab you at anytime. Please be careful! Mahalo Mikey and friends for jumping in!”
In the video, Wright sprints across the yard and across the beach to secure the swimmer, who was in a precarious situation near rocks in the shorebreak. He secures her once she’s relatively close to shore and appears to shield her from a potential impact on rocks before safely returning to shore with the assistance of other good Samaratins.
Mikey Wright was succinct with his description of the scenario. In an Instagram post, he accompanied the videos with the caption, “Hold my beer”
If you’re on the North Shore, be safe. Always follow directions and rules from the lifeguards. Those guys are legends. Watch our short film, Like Water, which paints a portrait of life as a North Shore Lifeguard here.
