SURVIVING A RIP-CURRENT

The dreaded rip current or riptide is a current that flows against the regular tide. Instead of gently depositing floating swimmers back on the shore it takes them further out. Often causing panic, many a life has been lost either through the exhaustion of fighting the current or literally taking poor swimmer out of their depth.

Recent research has changed the way we think about surviving riptides. The old thinking was to simply swim parallel to the shore and diagonally angle yourself back to shore.

Some countries however are making amending this advice as the changes of this working in a strong rip are about 50/50 and require a reasonable swimming ability.

It now seems the best strategy, if you can relax enough is to do nothing except float and leg the circular current take you out and then eventually back to shore or when the current subsides enough for the above diagonal swim back.

The key principles are to remain calm. Seek assistance if you can. If not, relax and wait for an opportunity.