Proposal wash-out as romantic couple swept off their feet by enormous wave

Even the most carefully laid plans can be disrupted by the force of nature.

Matthew Hartman was down on one knee, just at the point of proposing to his girlfriend Lis, when a giant wave rushed in from the ocean and swept the couple completely off their feet.

The pair were completely engulfed and ended up back on Laguna Beach, where Lis, happy but wet, accepted Matthew's offer. Fortunately, the whole thing was caught on video.

Breaker: Matthew Hartman was down on one knee, just at the point of proposing to his girlfriend Lis, when a giant wave rushed in from the ocean and swept the couple completely off their feet

Wash-out: The couple were swept back to Laguna Beach by the huge wave

Shock: Lis completely disappeared under the water

Valuables: Matthew checked the ring was safe in his hand before he helped his girlfriend out of the foam

Matthew had started the romantic interlude on November 21, by playing Lis a song he had written. 

He then shocked his fiancée by removing a ring from his pocket and dropping to one knee on a rocky outcrop on the Californian shoreline.

 

Small waves had previously been lapping at the edge of the picture but these are replaced by a huge breaker which takes both Lis and Matthew by complete surprise.

After the enormous wave has washed the couple back to shore, Matthew quickly checks the engagement ring is still safe on his hand before helping his life partner out of the foam.

Laughter: The couple saw the funny side as they dripped dry

It's behind you! The moment Matthew, still down on one knee, notices the enormous wave

Picturesque: The pair got some impressive engagement photos

Happiness: The ring was saved, neither person was injured and Matthew got the answer he hoped for

As Lis wrote on the Youtube posting of their dramatic proposal video: 'Soaking wet, I quickly jumped up and said YES!'

The ring was saved, neither person was injured and Matthew got the answer he hoped for. 

Though it didn't go as planned, things turned out relatively well for these lovebirds.

And photographer Jon Hwang was on hand to snap some impressive engagement photos.