Terrifying moment man records rogue wave without realising before having to evacuate

Here is the terrifying moment in where a man began recording a rogue wave on a US beach - before having to flee seconds later.

When it comes to the ocean, there's a pretty good rule to follow; should you see the tide suddenly pull very far back from the beach it's time to start running, unless you want to get swept away by the water that's about to come crashing into you.

This is exactly what happened to beachgoers at Ventura, California who were forced to flee for their lives after witnessing a rogue wave.

Watch the footage below:

What is a 'rogue wave'?

Also known by the names 'killer wave', 'sneaker wave' or 'sleeper wave' around the world, a rogue wave is an abnormally large wave which can occur without any warning. They are usually defined as a wave with a height more than twice the size of the standard significant wave height.

The term rogue waves was originally used to describe waves which occur out at sea, however, it has since been expanded to include those which occur near the shoreline - with the terms 'sleeper' or 'sneaker' waves sometimes being preferred.

Although distinct and less devastating than a tsunami, rogue waves can still be dangerous due to their unpredictability.

The danger of these waves can be seen perfectly in the video footage taken from Ventura in December last year, with passersby going from watching the water to running inland in just seconds. The clip shows people being chased by the water for several streets while others are knocked to the ground and swept away.

Not what you want to see at the beach (YouTube/ABC)

A report from ABC news would later add that eight people were treated at local hospitals for injuries.

One local man who was interviewed by the outlet added that he'd 'never seen' waves as destructive during his time living in the area.

"The waves were big," he said. "I mean, I'm a water guy. I sail, scuba dive. These were 15+ foot waves this morning at high tide. Never seen that. We've been here for 10 years."

The shocking nature of the clip has naturally led to it doing the rounds across social media in the following months, with several people urging others to never forget how powerful the ocean can be.

"I do not, I repeat DO NOT, f**k with the ocean. Idc," one person wrote on X, while a second added: "People do not understand how powerful the ocean is..."

"Never turn your back on the ocean," a third commented.