Newlyweds attempt to capture the perfect beach splash honeymoon photo... but it goes very wrong

These newlyweds got more than they bargained for while posing for the perfect honeymoon shot.

Marelize and Ryan Dreyer were celebrating their marriage while on a beach in Hermanus, South Africa, when they were hit by a huge wave.

Marelize, 25, from Leicestershire, broke her leg in two places and dislocated her ankle after the force of the water trapped her between two rocks.

Her husband, Ryan, 26, managed to free her from the rocks with the help of her sister and a friend, before she was taken to hospital.

The couple had been posing for a honeymoon photo when the wave crashed into them.

After the wave hit, Marelize, a physiotherapy graduate, made a makeshift splint for her ankle out of two flip flops.

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Ryan said they had just been trying to move to a safer spot on the rocks when the wave surprised them.

‘We were concerned about the bigger waves coming; but we weren’t too concerned while crossing the rock there,’ he said.

‘When we were moving over we felt the first wave hit and that’s where we tried to sit down and get another shot – since we were now in a safer location, with a rock pool nearby, rather than a drop straight into the ocean.

‘We saw the next wave coming and tried to get ready for the picture, but the wave just smashed down on top of us.

‘Instantly it felt like we were underwater – the wave was really disorientating, we were just sat there and the next second we were underwater.

‘It was hard to know which way was up and how to stand because the wave was so powerful.

‘I stood up and looked for Marelize, and it instantly it was clear that something was wrong. She couldn’t stand and she was just clutching her ankle, flopping around.’

She was treated in hospital for two days after the accident, and had a titanium plate and 12 screws inserted in her left leg.

Although the couple are staying with family for her to recover, they plan to continue their honeymoon by travelling to Australia.

‘We had a bucket list of photos – few photos that we really wanted to get while we were travelling,’ said Ryan.

‘We’d tried it in a few places, but couldn’t the picture to work for various reasons.

‘We found this perfect place on the beach and Marelize’s sister said she’d take the photo.

‘We’re not naïve – her family goes to that particular beach town, both of us are aware of the danger, but in this case there was especially large waves form the super spring tide.

‘We’re usually very careful and have travelled all through South East Asia with no incidents, but perhaps we got a bit too relaxed as we’re both from South Africa.’