On December 23, 1994, during a week of huge swells, the Hawaiian big-wave rider Mark Foo, with Ken Bradshaw and Mike Parsons, surfed Mavericks. Foo fell on a late takeoff into an 18-foot wave and was found dead a few hours later. Many surfers believe his leash tied him to a rock formation underwater.
The accident gave Mavericks greater notoriety and led to the formation of the Mavericks Water Patrol by Frank Quirarte and Jeff Clark. It also sparked a continuing debate about whether leashes are safe when surfing extreme waves. Quick-release leashes have since become standard equipment.
A second death, of Sion Milosky in March 2011 after a two-wave hold-down, reinforced how serious the break is.
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