In Salmon Bay, a good beach Samaritan wasted no time in helping out a fellow beachgoer after seeing her caught in a rip current. But, what can we do if we find ourselves in a similar choppy situation?
Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa (25 April, 2023) — A beachgoer didn’t think twice when he saw a woman battling against a rip current at Salmon Beach along the Northern Coast, pulling some Bay Watch-approved moves to get her to safety.
With an NSRI pink Rescue Buoy close by, he grabbed the device, briefly assessed the situation and began the rescue operation on his own.
Watch the Good Beach Samaritan in Action:
According to the NSRI, the female swimmer had gotten caught up in a rip current, which are known to sweep even the mightiest swimmers out to the depths of the sea.
Rip currents are sneaky motions of the ocean that tend to move slowly meaning they aren’t always easily spotted. Still, they’re the biggest danger most swimmers will experience in the ocean.
This experience is one of many (over 146) that the famous Pink Buoys have helped. But, just in case you ever find yourself in a choppy rip current situation, we’ve got some tips.
Life Hacks: Handling a Rip Current
As shared by the NSRI:
- The first thing to do is to understand if you’re actually in the presence of a rip current.
- These currents are often a different colour to the surrounding sea, and tend to have choppy waters in their channels.
- If you’ve found yourself caught up, don’t desperately race against the current no matter how much of a Chad Le Clos you think you are. Either swim slowly or let the current carry you past the breakers. The good news? The current won’t pull you under its grasp if you’re able to keep yourself afloat.
- Remember, life is like a river, and that sentiment holds a lot of weight if you’re ever in a rip current:
“Take note from looking at the beach of the direction that the current is pulling you, think of it like a river and remember to get out of a river you would swim to the river bank. This means that in a rip current you should swim at 90 degrees to the direction that you are being pulled and then use the waves to help you get back to the beach.”—NSRI.
- Wave for help so that lifeguards can see you’re in trouble.
Helping Someone Else
- If you see someone struggling and there are no professional helpers nearby, look out for the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, or something that can float. In some cases, these can float out to the struggle area.
- Still, getting help from a lifeguard or calling the NSRI is always a safer bet.
- Pro tip: The Pink Rescue Buoy signs have emergency numbers on them for you to call for help!
- Extra pro tip: Once again, don’t attempt any Olympic swimmer stunts in trying to rescue someone else if you have no training or a Pink Rescue Buoy at hand. This could mean two people in danger and one less to call for help if you venture in untrained.
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