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The incident happened around 7:40 a.m. on Jan. 19 at Tien Beach in Hoa Xuan Commune, Dong Hoa Town of Dak Lak, during a coastal tour from Nha Trang. A group of four tourists from the U.S., Germany and Denmark had stopped to swim when sudden rough waves struck.
Tourists cling to a rope as police pull them to shore in Dak Lak Province, Jan. 19. 2026. Video courtesy of Dak Lak police
Nicholas Theophanous, a German national, and Viled Danisl, a Danish national, were pulled away from shore and slammed against rocks, becoming trapped in a crevice about 30 centimeters wide and more than 50 meters from where they had entered the water. The rocky gap was covered in slippery moss, making it impossible for them to climb out as waves continued to crash into the area.
The strong surf caused one tourist to suffer a head injury, while the other was left unable to move. Both shouted for help as conditions worsened.
Local police in Hoa Xuan Commune quickly coordinated with fire and rescue units and border guard forces to launch an emergency response. Rescuers faced difficulty due to strong waves and dangerous terrain, but managed to secure ropes for the tourists to hold onto and pull them to safety.
The injured tourist was placed on a stretcher and taken to a nearby medical center for treatment.
According to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the sea at the time was affected by northeast monsoon winds, with waves reaching 1.5 to 2.5 meters, creating hazardous conditions for swimmers and coastal visitors.
