there's a couple things that could have happened. followed the surf out too far, too old to move fast, rogue wave, got knocked over by wave and disoriented. my guess is rogue wave like the one at Pacific beach some years ago that went halfway up to where the cars were parked and took out many lanterns. we noticed it was coming in too much and quickly headed up the beach, it would have been thigh deep where we were digging had we not got out of there