Rip currents – go with the flow
With Spring Tides at this time of year and thousands of holiday makers flocking to beaches throughout the Kouga region a note of caution. With Spring tides creating higher and lower tides the risk of being caught in rip currents increases. A fisherman fishing off Kabeljous beach at the weekend was swept off his feet and washed out to sea by a rip current. Although the NSRI was called their services were not needed on this occasion for he was spotted by a group on the beach who managed to get a rope to him and pull him to safety.
A warning to those not familiar with the ocean, don’t swim or fish from the beach or rocks alone. Always use a ‘buddy’ system so if you do get into difficulties there will be someone to call for help. And if caught in a rip current don’t panic, easy to say certainly but try and remain calm and go with the flow. Rip currents will normally only pull you out as far as the breaker line where the current will release you and allow you to move out of the current and slowly make your way back to the beach left or right away from the current.
Note: Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water. Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer so don’t try and compete with them, you will lose.
Here is a useful site to find out more about Rip Currents. Pass it on to your family and friends it could save a life.
Rip Currents: The Ocean’s Deadliest Trick
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