PRINCETON, Calif., March 17 (UPI) -- A witness described monstrous surf breaking at California's Mavericks at the time professional surfer Sion Milosky was killed late Wednesday.
Milosky, 35, Kalaheo, Hawaii, was pounded by two huge waves at the legendary surf break and his body was recovered a short time later.
"Huge, 50-foot, absolutely massive waves were coming through constantly," surfer Shawn Dollar told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. "It was hard to keep track of people."
The Sentinel said Thursday Milosky fell when the large wave he was riding collapsed. Another large wave then broke on top of him, apparently holding him under water and drowning him.
Some surfers said afterward the growing popularity of Mavericks called for the stationing of lifeguards at the scene, the Sentinel said. Mavericks was the site of Hawaiian surfer Mark Foo's death in 1994 and several close calls since then.
Milosky was considered one of the leading big-wave surfers in Hawaii and was in California for The Jay at Mavericks surf competition.
