Freak wave drags funeral party out to sea

March 28, 2005

Two brothers were swept away and a woman was pulled to safety on Sunday after a wave, said to be 5-6 metres (17-20 feet) high, washed over their funeral service in Spain’s Canary Islands.

The massive wave struck while a party of 15 was spreading the ashes of a 16 year old boy in the sea, according to Manuel Sosa, one of the rescuers. The boy’s father, age 36, and a paternal uncle, age 23, were swept away and are presumed dead. The mother, age 34, was caught in the wave, but rescued.

The tragedy occurred near the village of Arucas on Gran Canaria Island.