Having just lost a co-worker & dear friend to the will of the sea/ocean yesterday: are you going to be swimming in the sea or ocean in the future? If you are, please read this: a swimmer caught in a rip tide/current should not attempt to swim back to shore directly against the rip. This risks exhaustion and drowning. A rip does not pull a swimmer under water; it carries the swimmer away from the shore in a narrow channel of water. The rip is like a treadmill which the swimmer needs to step off. The swimmer should remain calm and swim parallel to the shore until he or she is outside of the current. Then, locations to aim for are places where waves are breaking. In these areas, floating objects are generally transported towards the shore. Punch your fear down, keep your confidence up &, even if you're not a particularly strong swimmer, you WILL make it back to shore if you swim parallel to it to get out of the rip & then swim in. Be SAFE, everyone!

Good reminder Jenny. So sorry your friend didn't make it out of this terrible situation. It's so difficult to stay calm and keep your head in these types of situation. Even strong, knowledgeable swimmers let panic take over. When I was taking my SCUBA instructions the one thing that was always on each test was "What is the number one cause of drowning?" -- the answer is PANIC.

Jenny sorry to hear about your friend/coworker and thank you for the reminder to keep calm.

Ohhhhh Jenny,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear friend. What a terrible thing.

This is very good - well written advice.

Thank you

The sea is cruel and has no favourites !!!! Very sorry about the loss of yet another person to the sea of tranquility !!!