What's it like to surf a tsunami?

 

New Zealander surfer Chris Nel describes what it was like to be out at sea on his surfboard when a tsunami struck the island of Savai'i in Samoa. He and other surfers survived by paddling for deep water when the water got glassy and started running back out to sea. They paddled in after a few surges and had to make their way through trees and wreckage to finally hit shore.