Dragged Under a Six-Story Wave

Ken Collins describes what it feels like to be chewed up and spat out by the world's most ferocious wave, off Maui's north shore:

"For 30 seconds, it felt like King Kong had me by the feet and was just going apeshit rag-dolling me. I relaxed and took a dozen breaststrokes, but I was still down deep. Stars flashed in the corners of my eyes. I finally broke the surface, gasping for air. A film-crew chopper buzzed overhead, and I thought, I'm saved! But they just sat there filming me die. I prayed for them to harpoon me in the leg and fly me away. Then the third wave hit."