What was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime turned into a nightmare for one woman, who shared her chilling tale of how she came perilously close to being dragged out to sea.
Avalon Mira, who goes by @patootiepeaches on Instagram, decided to take a dip in the waters of Curaçao to wash off the day’s dirt from an off-roading trip.
The 26-year-old model and influencer from Colorado, USA, was enjoying the Caribbean escape with her mum and a few friends when disaster struck on February 8.
Footage on her Instagram shows her perched in what appears to be a calm pool surrounded by rocks, before huge waves start pounding over her.
“One of my hands was all cut up because I was holding on to the rocks so hard,” Avalon recounted. “I also banged my leg really hard from being pushed by the waves. My family and friends were as scared as I was because of the position I was in.”
The instructor from their off-road adventure didn’t hesitate, shouting at her to grip the rocks while he raced into the water to help her to safety, as her mother and others watched in terror from the shore.
Avalon continued: “The instructor from the off-roading excursion started shouting at me to get low, hold on and to brace myself. I could have been swept out further to sea or even have hit my head on the rocks. I could have died out there.”
The model narrowly escaped a terrifying ordeal. Her mother, who had joined her in the ocean, only encountered smaller waves and managed to escape before the larger ones hit, ensuring her safety as well.
If you find yourself caught in rough seas, it’s crucial to remain as calm as possible and take immediate steps to ensure your safety. Battling against waves or currents will quickly exhaust you.
Instead, try to float with the current until it weakens. Lean back, spread out your arms, and focus on staying buoyant. Use your energy wisely. Call out, wave your arms or use anything reflective (like a mirror) to signal rescuers.
Conserve your energy, and shout for help when you see someone nearby. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore (not directly against the current).
Once you’re out of the rip current, swim toward the shore at an angle. When available, grab onto a flotation device (such as a cooler, life preserver or boat debris) to help you stay afloat and conserve energy. If the water is cold, try to keep as much of your body out of the water as possible.
Curl into a foetal position to conserve heat, especially if you’re alone (known as the HELP position – Heat Escape Lessening Posture).
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