Safety measures at the North's most popular tourist attraction are to be reassessed after a freak wave swept a crowd of youngsters into the sea.
Eight children and a man escaped serious injury after being plunged into choppy waters at the Giant's Causeway on the north Antrim coast by a 25 ft-wave on Thursday night.
Five children from the Macrory family in Derry, their three English cousins, the Humphreys from Cheshire, and their father, Ian, were washed off the rocks, but managed to scramble ashore.
The National Trust, which has responsibility for the site - visited by half a million visitors each year - said the health and safety of visitors was its top priority. North West Area Manager Paul Mullan said: "The unique landscape beauty of the Giant's Causeway makes it such a popular visitor attraction. However, it is this very landscape which can be dangerous and unpredictable."
Mr Ian Humphreys was taking photographs of his three children and their cousins at the site when the huge wave struck. "It completely flattened all the kids, it flattened me and smashed everybody on to the rocks.
"When I saw my son appear to be sucked out to sea, instinct took over. I just piled down the rocks to the base where he was crouching. He had gone into shock by that time and was just clinging foetal-like to the rock," he said.
The children were treated for minor cuts and bruises following the incident but no-one was seriously injured.
After an accident in which a child died four years ago in the same area, the National Trust, Moyle District Council and the Coast Guard Agency undertook an extensive review of safety.Steps taken at the time included improved signs highlighting potential dangers, health and safety leaflets handed out to all visitors and throw lines placed at the stones themselves.