Husband dead after giant wave drags elderly American couple off Mexican beach

Map shows Mexico's Baja California peninsula, off west coast of northern Mexico. / AP

(AP) LOS CABOS, Mexico — Authorities in Mexico say a giant wave has dragged off a U.S. couple walking on a Baja California beach, drowning the 72-year-old husband and injuring his 66-year-old wife.

Prosecutors say a navy boat found Ted Park's body two hours later in the ocean 800 yards from the spot where the wave hit the couple. The statement says Park's wife, Shinae, suffered respiratory problems after Wednesday's accident in Los Cabos.

The couple was visiting from Walnut Creek, California.

The U.S. Consulate confirms that the man who died was a U.S. citizen.

Los Cabos, at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, is a favorite vacation spot for Hollywood stars and thousands of other U.S. tourists who still venture to Mexican beaches despite the drug violence that plagues parts of the country.

[petesis]

Any particulars on this wave? I read a bunch of irrelevant nonsense when the interesting thing is what/how/why did a giant wave just come up and hit this poor man. Condolences to his poor widow. That is a freak thing no matter what the cause.

[ckarasov]

Waves along the Pacific side of the beaches at the tip of Baja have powerful undertows and long shore currents. Thirty years ago my mother drowned when a wave caught her unexpectedly and dragged her under and out to sea. She was unaware of how ocean waves come in set that vary in size. She thought that she was safe walking along the water's edge and letting the waves lap up on her legs.

[endrepubs]

What kind of a wave was that?

[booooooCBSboooooooooooo]

I don't care how rare violence is over there. Mexico has done nothing but take from the U.S. and hates us for it. They don't even treat their illegal immigrants like they expect us to treat ours. Screw Mexico, I will never go back!

[Lerianis4]

Get real here. Mexico has 1/4th or less of the money coming into it that the United States does. Add into this that they are paying for our stupid drug prohibition and we Americans owe them a lot, unless we are going to FINALLY get sane and legalize the drug trade.

[aintfakin]

the fine folks who live in Baja Sud thank you for that drug violence comment
not really
why?
because that kind of stuff is pretty rare over there.
get a clue CBS