Giant Wave Kills Tourist After Elderly Couple Is Swept Out To Sea In Mexican Resort

A giant wave killed an elderly American woman walking on the beach in Mexico on Tuesday and gravely injured her companion, officials said.

The two tourists were taking a stroll on the beach outside the popular resort destination of Cabo San Lucas when they were struck by the wave and pulled out into the tide, the Associated Press said. Navy personnel eventually brought both the 65-year-old woman and her 70-year-old companion back to shore, but the woman was pronounced brain dead at the scene. The man was taken to the hospital for injuries, and remained in serious condition as of Wednesday.

Although officials weren't able to pinpoint exactly where on the beach the pair had encountered the deadly wave, they had reportedly been taking in the scenery around Cabo’s landmark stone arch just before being struck. Several of the nearby beaches are well-known for exceptionally large and sometimes dangerous waves.

Law enforcement officials said that they had been unable to immediately ascertain where the two lived: the woman was carrying a Wisconsin driver’s license at the time of her death, while the man had identification from Nebraska. Police haven't confirmed whether next of kin had been notified, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said it couldn't offer any additional information as of Wednesday.

The incident is just the latest in a series of recent drownings. In January, a 59-year-old California man was killed by a “sneaker wave” while trying to save his dog from drowning. In December, a pair of two men believed to be a father and son who had been fishing in the San Francisco Bay both perished when they were overtaken by a wave.