Waving Away

Submitted by ub on

This one for the #CityImages greatest hits files, literally and otherwise.. It comes to you courtesy of the folks at #HistoryDaily.

This amazing image is of massive waves that started smashing against the lighthouse on La Jument off the coastline of Brittany, France, on December 21, 1989, as photographer Jean Guichard just happened to be in a helicopter over the premises with his camera at the ready.

Meanwhile, lighthouse keeper Théodore Malgorn who survived was doing his best to stay safe at the top of the lantern room after witnessing the water smashing the windows at the bottom of the lighthouse and ripping off the front door. If you look close at the photo you can see Malgorn just kind of chilling as chaos swirls around him.

A wave hit this lighthouse off the coast of France in 1989

As the helicopter that carried Guichard hovered overhead, Malgorn mistook it for his rescue helicopter and rushed outside to let to get its attention. When he popped outside the lighthouse was hit with a huge wave. He barely made it back inside before getting completely soaked with freezing water. Hope he floats!