Louisville, KY - A small tsunami measuring approximately 4 feet high terrified small children and frightened dozens at a local park pool in Louisville today. The wave, which originated in the deep end of the pool traveled the nearly 100 feet to the shallow end in under 6 seconds, giving parents and children wading there little time to react.

Though there were no reported casualties, several small children were knocked off their feet, pushed into the side of the pool, or became caught in the undertow as the wave receded and dragged out towards the deep end of the pool. The wave also reportedly caused several items of property to be displaced or lost.

‘It was horrific!’, Patty Gilberg sobbed, ‘ There was nothing I could do. One minute I was playing with my daughter Hana, and the next thing I know is this giant waves hits me, and before I can recover I see Hana being dragged back towards the deep end of the pool screaming’. Pausing to compose herself, Gilberg continued, ‘If it wasn’t for rope dividing the deep end from the shallow, my Hana might have been swept completely out of her end.’

Eye witness accounts indicate that the source of the wave came from the failed dive attempt of one Derrick Higgins, 32. Higgins, who weighs a reported 368 pounds, stated that as he moved towards the end of the diving board on the 5 meter platform, he slipped, causing him to fall the 15 feet to the water in a spasm of uncontrolled contortion and flailing and not in the graceful splashless dive he originally intended.

Officials have promised an investigation to determine if any policy should be created or if they should install some type of tsunami warning system. In the meantime Robert Yuless, Louisville Parks Supervisor, gave the following advice regarding pool tsunamis.

  • Keep an eye on the diving area as much as possible. Most tsunamis are generated in this area.
  • Beware of obese or out of shape divers. Tsumanis are caused by the rapid displacement of water a ‘cannonball or bellyflop’ type dive creates.
  • If you see a diver flailing, screaming, swearing, or otherwise falling in an uncontrolled manner, realize you have mere seconds before a potential tsunami may be generated. Get out of the pool and to high ground such as a lawn chair, or bench.
  • Do not try and outswim a tsunami. They can traverse the entire length of an olympic sized pool in as little as 10 seconds. If you are caught in a tsunami, try and grab onto a ladder, or the rope dividing the deep end from the shallow. Failing that, your best bet is to hold your breath and swim to the bottom of the pool until the wave passes.