I survived an intense rip in Florida while on vacation. I was only 16 years old and I was alone getting carried off very far from shore. When I realized it, I didn't panic. I stayed behind the line of wave breaks and allowed the current to continue carrying me out, floating at times to save energy. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get to some water I could actually swim in and then I made it back to shore. I then walked miles from somewhere at Daytona Beach back to New Smyrna Beach where my family was. When I finally made it back they didn't even realize I was gone or what had happened. I'm so grateful I didn't panic and even though I was deeper into the ocean that day than ever in my life I made it out in one piece. Best tip is DO NOT PANIC. Edit: I was a tourist and so was my family. My family had told me at that time that where the cars were parked on the beach just a little ways down from where our hotel was located is where Daytona Beach started. This was incorrect information that some locals in the comments corrected me on! I was only 16 at the time and a visitor, but I did end up miles down the beach somewhere near the dunes at the end of New Smyrna Beach a ways north of the Moontide Condominiums we were renting out from., and I did walk back which took me about 30-40 minutes to reach where my family was which was my point of entry into the ocean. I was exhausted and it was a very hot day as well. The water was extremely choppy that day and the rip was strong that day as well. I had no previous knowledge of rip currents before the day I wound up in one.
@@person8834 I wasn't sure what to do, my main concern was to not wear myself out so I wouldn't drown. My feet couldn't touch the ground, the water was cold and very choppy that day so I mostly just let it carry me out. It's possible there was a better way to deal with it, but no one saw me so if I had tired myself out I would have drowned
I was in Madeira Beach, Fl. in 1978 with my two doberman dogs by my side. They decided to run into the water. I thought no sweat, they just want to cool down. All of a sudden I see them going farther and farther out to sea. I jumped up and swam after them. Was really easy to catch up to them because I felt the water was actually pulling us out to sea. THEN, I realized we were in a rip-current. In the first moment I panicked, but then I remembered what a fisherman told me about rip-currents. So, I turned on my back and grabbing the collars of both dogs, I concentrated just keeping my and their heads out of the water. With my "turbo-prop" legs I tried to guide us to shore, going first parallel to the shore. Soon, I felt we were making progress and my feet touch bottom. Home with them, and never again did I take them to the beach.
I'm a rip current expert I have my masters degree in ripology 101 and the best way to avoid get ripped by the rip as we call it, Is to not get into the water. I'm glad I answered all your questions now I must go back down into my mothers basement
From 25 years as a surfer I can tell you that that urge to head straight back in is a very strong urge. Don’t presume just because you know it’s bad that you won’t do it anyway in a panicked state.
With regards to surfing, I remember the biggest issue in Hawaii was tryin to swim OUT through the waves, but being an avid swimmer (including swim team) helped me stay conditioned and confident. When it comes to Florida I'm usually boogeyboarding if the water is rough, but the surf is usually hard for catching a good wave because you get so many right behind one another with very few easily defined sets. I've felt the strong pull a few times, but luckily if it's rough I'm not diving/snorkeling so I always have the board with me. Sometimes kicks alone don't move me strongly enough, even with my short board fins, so I tuck the board further under my stomach and then use my hands to add some power, and it gets me out of it. Nobody is outswimming the strongest rips, but the average or lower end ones I can usually handle. Still, respect the water, ALWAYS, and keep in mind that predators are out there too. I'll never get cocky about handling open water.
@@jimmcneal5292 tried going against current in a wave pool river, not a normal lazy river. Couldn’t do it, not even with my feet planted and it’s only 5 mph. Even Micheal Phelps could only swim at 6 mph
Would have been helpful seeing her swimming parallel to the beach for 20-30' out of the rip current rather than getting a ride every time. All they showed is that you need a Sea-doo or rescuer to get out of a rip current.
Exactly. She showed people what a rip current does, but not how to safely get back to shore yourself. Like you said, let it take you passed the waves, and swim sideways out of the current, parallel to shore, and ride a wave back in.
breckandy Cause news is all about fear cause fear gets more people to watch. Spending the few minutes explaining how you can get out of it is essentially wasted ratings. I bet you they actually filmed the part where she escapes herself but producers cut it.
breckandy Like those survivor or reality shows where they'll cut into shots of some lion or snake that's not even in the same country as the contestant.
one of my friends recently drowned in a rip current. its hard to think thats hes really gone even though i still hear his young voice in my head. wish he knew what to do. its would save his life and so many people from such saddness. truly rest in peace, i love you.
It's hard not to panic swallowing salt water. I got swept out once but my girlfriend was with me and she'd served in the Navy.and talked me through it.
Me and my mom went to the beach yesterday and we got caught in a riptide. We were enjoying the waves like everyone else at the beach and there was a lot of people swimming. We didn't even realize until our feet couldn't touch the floor anymore and the waves were pulling us away from the shore. It was terrifying to see my mom being pulled further and further away from me as she pushed me to save me but I kept swimming towards her because I'm not going to let her drown. On top of that, wave after wave kept on hitting us. We were swimming with all of our force but the riptide was taking us. Lucky, a lifeguard came to save us! One of the most scariest things ever.
Somewhat yeah. I was actually at the same beach at the same spot today. Where his body was found. There was a squad of lifeguards. Those waves were strong. Felt like I was in one of those currents. And waves were coming back to back When I made it back to shore I was about 25 yards away from where I started😂 sucked ass.
@@alextogo8367 I'm from cali but recently moved to AZ I heard Cali was on lockdown cause of coviid or is it over and ppl can go out as they plz I was surprised I thought nobody can go to the beach that is awesome tho Az suck no beach only lake waterfall jeje
@@LB-lx8iq it's still on lockdown. The parking lots, piers, dine in restaurants and such are still close. And can still walk to the beaches though. And as long as you're keeping your distance from other people.👍 Ironically the lakes are still close. I prefer lakes over oceans, because I enjoy swimming.
Dr. Newdell here: Mind you, Ginger is a young phys. fit woman. Older, less fit people should understand to swim sideways parallel to the beach if they find they're suddenly distant from shore. Cold water and swimming when you have not for perhaps years will tire you quickly, so remember the advice given in this video and others here, wait at least 45-minutes after eating to swim, and observe the surf before going out. The low "valley"s on the beach and smooth blue green "roads" going out are rip-currents. They're like drains pulling you out. Avoid them. Swim where life guards say you're safe, between flags, and raise a hand and call out if you're in trouble.
I got caught in a brutal current in Hawaii..got sucked out pretty far, initially tried swimming to shore but realized I wasn't making any progress, so swam across it..when I finally reached shore I was a good 1/3 mile away from where I entered...I didn't panic, good swimmer, pretty comfortable in open waters, but I can imagine if someone weren't it could've turned much worse
In Molokini crater off Maui they had us swim to the 300' drop off at the edge, and they said that you'd face a very strong current (the water is only 2 feet deep at the edge, so it has a really big sucking action outwards), but not to panic, and let it carry you out and they'll pick you up in the zodiac. The minute I felt the pull I said "Forget that nonsense", as I looked down into the dark abyss and pictured a big old shark smiling up from the depths at me (which later on they did photograph a great white doing exactly that down there). I kicked my fins so hard and broke loose from the current and made it back to the boat in one piece.
yes eveyrone with rip current in trouble , don't NO HOW to SWIM PEROD. THEY ARE FUN, I float on them float out at 50 yard tiil it stop, the current waves bring me back in no problem enjoy the ocean, swimming in the big waves is enjoyable. No big deal.
Same, I was exhausted and thought I was gonna drown. I relaxed and swam along the wave and managed to get out safely. This was at Laguna Beach. Where were you?
Happened to me in ixtapa and I never learned anything about rip currents, I swam straight and tired myself out and drank so much water, after that I didn’t get in. It happened so fast where I couldn’t feel the ground
happened to me too, in a bar last Saturday, her name was Kate. It was that good I almost didn't make it back to my Mrs. Wasn't the scariest moment of my life like your event though, even thought we experienced the same thing?
This is the best advice I have got. Thanks so much I'm a Nigerian and over here we just fear the whole beach without understanding what's really happening. Many have died though. Always same story, "he/she got pulled far into the water and drowned... They couldn't find the body".
I've experienced rips on the Atlantic ocean that move almost parallel to the beach. What I've been told is when the current is moving horizontal let it take you down the beach and relax. It will take you to a weaker part of the current where you may be able to swim back in on your own.
Exactly, don't fight the current by swimming into it, trying to get back to land. Let the current take you where it will, probably very horizontal route, if you do not panic, you will find shallow water down stream to swim back to land. You can easily be a mile down the water stream (or more) but letting the current take you to a safer route to swim back to shore is the way to beat a rip tide.
A buddy of mine who's a VERY strong swimmer was out for this usual workout one day, and he kept making slower progress than usual as he swan up and down the beach, and yeah, the current was the issue. It was kind of funny in hindsight, because it was more an obstacle than a threat since it was a parallel (to the beach) current.
The current that goes along the beach is not a rip. It’s a longshore current usually associated with swell. In summer long shore pushes from south to north in winter from north to south.
@GUMMYBEAYUH i used to swim as a workout on various beaches around the world parallel to shore and experienced parralel currents pretty frequently and would treat them as a treadmill so to speak in the ocean. i need to respect the potential power that these currents can have though it seems after researching them more. i was a daily ocean swimmer for around nearly an entire year and never experienced anything strong enough to carry me completely against my will for anything past 50 to 100 yards or so. looking back on it, i may i have been a little reckless as a i cared about was getting my daily workout in and even swam in storms pretty frequently... yeah not smart i know. at the time i thought off myself as a dolphin or something lol..The ocean is so much fun but also should be treated with great respect.
Got stuck in a rip current at Laguna Beach about 4 years ago. For some reason I remembered hearing somewhere to swim along the waves in order to get out and was able to make it out of the water safe.
My youngest daughter was swimming alone in the water, about a meter deep, while I stood on the shore with my eldest daughter, who was completely unaware of the danger nearby. I kept a close eye on my youngest, glancing back every now and then to make sure she was safe. Everything seemed perfectly normal-just another beautiful day at the beach. Suddenly, I felt a sense of unease. I decided to join her in the water, just to be closer, just in case. As I waded in and reached her, I casually mentioned that it was time to go home. But then something strange happened-I felt the sand shift beneath my feet. We tried to walk back to the shore, but it felt like we were being pulled away by some invisible force. Panic set in. We were being carried out to sea by a rip current, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The water that had seemed so calm just moments before was now our enemy. My heart pounded as I fought to stay on my feet, but it was no use. We were being dragged further and further from safety, and there was no one around to help. To make matters worse, neither of us knew how to swim. The situation was dire, and my mind raced with fear. In that moment, I felt completely helpless. The current was relentless, and I had no idea how to save us. My daughter was right next to me, facing the shore, but terror was written all over her face. Time seemed to slow down, and I knew we only had a few seconds to act. There was no time to think-only to react. In a desperate attempt to save my daughter, I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed her and, with all my strength, threw her to the right, toward the shore, away from the deadly current. It was a risk, a split-second decision that I hoped would save her life. I watched her splash into the water a few meters away from me, and without hesitation, I lunged after her, grabbing her hand and pulling with all my might. The current was still trying to drag us back, but somehow, we managed to inch closer to the shore. My muscles burned, my lungs screamed for air, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. Finally, we reached the shallows, and the current began to lose its grip. I pulled my daughter to shore, both of us gasping for breath, shaking with shock. We survived, but just barely. It was only later that I learned about rip currents and how they can turn a peaceful day at the beach into a life-or-death struggle. I had never heard of them before, but now I know all too well how dangerous they are. That day could have ended in tragedy, but somehow, we survived.
4m 28s summed up as this. Dont try to fight the current. Swim to the side till out of the current, then swim back to shore. Done. Would have been cool if she showed us how it works...
They are terrifying because of the way they just take you. You can’t feel it but, they do just grab you and suddenly, without knowing, you’re going 7 m/s away from the shore
A while back I once unknowingly got caught in a RIP that pulled me out far from the beach. Luckily I had my boogey board and I just ended up using that to catch a wave back to the beach. I didn't even know or attempt to go back where I came from like most people do when they get caught in a rip. The whole time I didnt even know that my life was in danger. I just thought that I had lost track of how far I went out.
This has happened to me multiple times as a kid in the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. Realizing I was so far from my family and just dreading the way back or trying to catch a solid wave back in. Horrifying thinking back to how often and how young I was!
It shows at the end of the video what to do. 4:07 4:15 "and then you can get back to where you came from" as in AFTER you're out of the rip current, start swimming back to shore. But yea, they did brush through that quick. 4 minute video and only 10 seconds of saying what we should do after. Laziness on their part
I’m a great swimmer and I was in Miami couple of months ago, I was swimming and out of nowhere it got very deep and I started to get sucked into the ocean and I realized that swimming back was not doing anything, I started to get tired and I definitely thought this was it, I was gonna die, eventually I was able to get back , but best advise I can tell u is if u take your family to the ocean don’t go deeper than your knees and I will never swim in the ocean again, rememembering that experience I can tell u that any other person with mediocre swimming skills would have drowned, I was so lucky I didn’t die
If this is what a "great" swimmer is, I'm not sure what adjective is left for those of us who are trying for open water anyway and won't be setting foot in the shallows for a couple of hours.
A caveat to the don’t go deeper than your knees - learn how to spot a rip current from the beach and avoid going into the water in that area altogether. Some rip currents are so strong that it can pull you out even if you’re wading calf deep in the water.
The same thing just happened to me a week ago in Puerto Rico I’m honestly scared to get back in the ocean after that experience I won’t go anything past my knees. It ruined my vacation for sure
I been in one on the ocean in Florida. It was VERY rough and a storm was approaching. The beach was closed for swimming and I went in. My smart friend stayed on shore. All of a sudden I was being swept out VERY quickly. I didn't panic but I knew I was in big trouble. Luckily I grew up on lake Erie and have been in similar situations but not quite as intense as this. What I did was dive to the bottom and basically claw my hands and feet into the sand like a dog and come up for air when I needed it. I was completely exhausted when I made it back to shore and the first thing I did was kiss the beach. Panama City Beach to be exact. That's my advice. Had I tried to battle the current by swimming I'd be dead FOR SURE
I was a teenager back in the 70's and lived in a beach town on Lake Michigan. This whole "new" strategy just came out a few years ago. Guess what RIP currents have been around for ever. We used play in the water during high waves. Loved the white caps and figured it out way back then. If it sucked you out, just do a float on your back. It might be aways, but eventually it bring you back to shore. Maybe the next town over, so you had a walk. So, when they came out with this campaign a few years ago, it was like No Shit lol. If it didn't work, I wouldn't be here. FYI I'm not a very strong swimmer. We figured it out watching drift wood. Human nature, you're going to take the easy way. So, float and don't wear yourself out. There more mishaps here because tourist come here and think Lake Michigan is a big swimming pool since it's an inland lake and not the ocean. They get surprised by the RIP currents. Know the water before you go into it. Stay safe! Oh, Hello Ginger. I was one your weather spotters when you were in Chicago doing wx and chasing tornado's.
Ive been right there where she was. The Levee behind here is at the southern end of Mission beach. In 1988 I was 18 years old and traveled from Oklahoma to Mission Beach California on a adventure. I was a very good swimmer...and outdoors person growing up in the country. I was about to go out in the ocean in this exact same spot...right at the levee. This really young kid came running up and told me not to go in. I almost didn't listen to him, but something inside me made me stop. I had never seen the ocean before. Now 31 years later I see this. That kid saved my life.
I think they said half the story. The other half is it is basically close to impossible for an ordinary vacationer to escape the rip. Look at the girl, by the way of her swimming ahe is not a beginner. Even she couldn't make it out on her own without a help and she was prepared, equipped and aware. If it was an ordinary Joe, by the time he understands he is in a rip he will be very well disoriented. After he realizes that he is in a rip current comes the difficult part. How does he know where to swim? With those waves pounding you it is very difficult to make a right choise. Then after swimming diagonally there is still a chance of getting into the same rip current if it is kinda like a twisted in shape. To sum up, without a help or a floating stuff you are as good as dead. Very few people have capabilities to stay afloat for 30 minutes or more or who can swim 300-400meters.
I appreciate your comment, because I never get cocky about just how dangerous water can be, despite the fact that I can swim for hours and miles at a time nonstop. No one is invincible, some of us are just more capable of handling it, but those if us who are more capable tend to respect the dangers and plan for them ahead of time. Pretending that dangers don't exist is not something that an experienced swimmer would ever do.
I’m a really strong swimmer and I was caught in a rip current whilst swimming in Miami South Beach, November last year After a few alcoholic beverages I thought it would be a good idea to swim out ‘until my feet didn’t touch the ground’ There were a few waves crashing about so I swam in the water which looked “calmer”. Then I thought it would be cool to go past the floating buoys and then turn back. Then as I started trying to swim back I noticed I wasn’t getting any closer to shore and I was getting a LOT more tired than usual. There were no lifeguards on duty and I was so far out that I doubt anyone would’ve seen/ heard me even if I signalled for help. Luckily I remember watching a couple of UA-cam videos about rips and the main thing they said to do is NOT TO PANIC. So I took a deep breath, filled my lungs with oxygen and started to float on my back. Once I got my breath back, I started swimming horizontally to shore doing what I call the “octopus” stroke 😂😂 Took me around 15 minutes to get out of the rip and back to shore but it felt like a LIFETIME. (It didn’t help that I brushed alongside some jellyfish that I thought were deadly on the way back either) The day after the ordeal there were extreme rip current warnings for Miami Beach and lifeguards weren’t letting anyone go further than knee deep.. I’m a very composed individual and even I was SURE I was going to die that day Safe to say I won’t be drinking next time I go in the sea..
Short version: stay calm. Don't swim against ripcurrent. swim parallel to the beach (perpendicular to ripcurrent) a relatively short distance until you are out of ripcurrent and then swim back to shore. 4:00
I got caught in a rip twice at Byron Bay when i was about 12/13 years old. It really sucked because at that age i didn't know what to look for, and there was a rather deep channel running out to sea where the rip was. It was especially strong at high tide. First time i got out pretty quick as i was closer to shore and was able to get good footing, but the second time, hell, i put my feet down and could only barely touch, and i could feel myself getting pulled out.
My brother was off snorkeling around a wreck so he was no good to me, suddenly i remembered my swimming classes at school and my teacher telling us what to do if we ever got caught in a rip, so i started swimming across the rip. I remember thinking "If MIss Ranger could see me now!!!" I made it out of the channel then it was about waist deep and i walked out. Never went swimming there again, and am pretty reluctant to go in the surf anywhere unless conditions are pretty much perfect.
My neighbor just died yesterday due to a riptide sucking him and his 2 kids out. He drowned trying to save his kids. Luckily they survived but he didn't.
Yes....Aussie former beach swimmer here, also having done my bronze medallion..(open water swimming and ocean safety qualification that is basic prerequisite to becoming a surf lifesaver in Australia)...Rules are..Never panic....learn to float....you can float for hours and use very little energy...Lay in the water horizontally to conserve energy either on your front or back...If possible swim sideways to the rip direction....rips are often narrow...and once out of the rip you can let normal wave action help you back to shore. Never try to swim directly against the rip.... Rips are basically the way that water that builds up against the shore from waves get carried back to the ocean...it's simply a circulatory system. Rips are also a surfers best friend to get out the back of the wave area without wasting energy fighting against waves to get out the back.
Never thought tk much about current until i seen a man get pulled out beyond sight. And this week a few men pulled out 3 found next day, and 1 dead. A beach at i frequent
When i was surfing alot in hawaii back in th 80s at a north shore spot as the tide got higher the waves do too , long story short 3 surfers & I in an instant were in a Rip going out several hundred yards moving paralel with the shore ,i was the most experienced only to know that this rip takes you to Kauai, i remember being told you can nevet swim against the current but you can try to go sideways ,in this case it would be to the shore, i explained to the others ,couple of them were scared and wanted to float to where ever it would take them & hope their friends would get help I told them No we stick together , we can do it long story short after 45 -50 mins of paddleing to reach shore we made it to shore several miles down from where we started with the help of the waves pounding us to shore but just glad to be alive , was an experience that will stand out in life, with the Moral of "never give up" very scary tho......thanx for the Vlog👊✌🤙
I just realized more than a decade later that this is the thing that almost killed me when I was 8 in Madagascar. Luckily some white guy out of nowhere saved me, I was very lucky since that beach was deserted.
My friend Matilda and I got stuck in it, luckily I'm a strong swimmer and I got out easily but she wasn't so lucky. She had to scream for help and she was far out for 5 minutes and I was so scared for her, I swallowed so much water and I though she was going to drown. But someone came to rescue her. And they weren't a lifeguard the lifeguards did nothing to help the swimmers were the people who helped. We were lucky that we got out.
I'm a very strong swimmer, and I've taken gulps of water here and there. Sometimes it's next to impossible not to get a gulp when you're in really heavy crashing chop. I've never had to stop swimming because of it, though (just once as a kid, but I kept on swimming after I composed myself and finished the race at least). Everybody's definition of "good swimmer" is definitely different, though, my one friend thinks he's really good but he can't maintain a stroke for more than a lap or two at a time (25m pool). I worry about some people, and I say this as someone who's been in all kinds of water and can swim for many miles and hours at a time. If you're experienced, then you also understand realistic dangers and prepare for them. It's the somewhat capable but inexperienced and super lucky types that I worry about the most.
me and my mom got stuck in one. I realized that we were getting pulled out pretty fast and told my mom she was too far out. she didn't believe me but listen and slowly tried to come in. thinking she was behind me I rode the few weak waves that were coming in along with kicking furiously no you're standard stroke more of like using my legs and feet as flippers, and somehow I made it into a relatively safer area only to look back and see my mom still struggling to get nearer to the shore. however it wasn't just her this time there was a little kid getting sucked out as well. a lifeguard came and asked my mom if she. needed help she declined and eventually made it to the. beach (it wasn't tremendously strong but it. was quick) however it was then that I noticed the kid bring pulled further away from us and the lifeguard began to swim to him and guide him in. two other kids eventually got. sucked out a little later on and the family and lifeguard had. to go get them. no one was hurt but boy was it scary. I don't know how I managed to get. myself in I never learned the standard stroke I have a more natural way of kicking. I chalk it up to God, my astrological sign Pisces a fish, and my respect of the ocean.
I was at a beach near a reef for a day with my family. The water was crystal clear and the scenery was amazing. As we walked up (we were never there before) we couldn't see really any waves. It looked pretty much even. Im always pretty cautious at a beach for the first time but i got a little jump scare when i entered that water. As you enter the water the inital portion is a constant ~1 foot deep but then all of a sudden one stem and it goes down 2 more feet almost instantly think 80 degree slope. Man did i get scared and i could see the ocean floor too but i didn't see that. After that the beach is level for a long time and then barely slopes down. But again there were no waves but now i noticed swells coming in. They were not really tall maby 10 cm above the normal water level. But when the first one hit it moved me with it with incredible force. If you tried to stay still it would move you a few steps forward no matter what. But that was more of an interesting finding. These small swells with more force than 10 foot tall waves i sat at other beaches ive been to (thats the kind of beach my family likes. we likes being in the giant waves). That isn't the main thing though. Only when the swells came did the water move otherwise it was effectively a pool. But i walked out a little farther then as i was taking a step underwater the water my foot hit was all of a sudden old. From pretty warm to cold in an instant. I stepped in to cold and back out into warmth. Now i was a little spooked cause sometimes there are pokets of cool water but they tend to move and arent really actually cold. I took another carefull stem then a current crazy stong pushed my foot to the left. I stepped forward to get it back on the ground then it grapped and pulled at my whole body. I tried by best to stabalize but could only manage to slow my leftward motion i had to keep moving my feet left not to be pushed over. My body was sort of shoecked by the cold water and i was beginning to panic but i was able to step forward after only a few seconds in the current. But i had moved several metres left. I had check the water infront already so i new that was safe but i was suprized by the insane speed of the water. While this was the cause if panic i showed my family who could swill well the current and it became a source of entertainment after the lifguard showed up. I couldn't quite outswim it in its strongest spot put my dad and cousin could and i had seen that the current actually goes into a shallow reef and not out to sea so it was not any any point life threatening unless you panicked since you could still touch the ground. A crazy beach that really shows the power of the ocean. It just casually flings you around as if you were a feather in the wind.
Remember to swim back to shore downward of the rip current otherwise you get caught in it again. In the illustration, the swimmer returned to the left of the rip, well... you go out again. Be cognisant of the wind direction/ general water current before entering for a rec. swim (pools excluded)
siri H it kills more people because we always see tornado safety videos and everything but this literally just says is your in a riptide call a lifeguard,well where I’m from there are no lifeguards so good luck getting out
That statistic is literally impossible. The Rip Current kills people in the water. On any given day at the beach, you might see a few hundred ppl on the shore, and 50 at most in the water, because news like this makes ppl into terrified landlubbers. Lightning covers the entire continent, and tornado’s most of the South. Several hundred thousand square feet vs. a coastline. Same goes for shark attacks, thought they lie with statistics there too.
@@Tempusverum Yeah lol I've been going to beaches to swim in the sea all of my life nearly, so about 30 years... Being absolutely honest I didn't even know these things existed. I knew about tide and currents and how much effect those things have....But yeah I agree, I don't think people need to be afraid to swim in the sea. As you quite nicely put it "terrified landlubbers", we don't need those. Useful video but the pretense was poor, I agree.
Indeed, msmusik, the water did get deeper as you got closer to shore. You were walking down from a sand bar into slightly deeper waters. Rip currents form when water goes back to the ocean from the beach between side-by-side sand bars. You must relax and swim parallel to shore for a short time. As the reporter said, the rip currents themselves often aren't very wide. By swimming parallel to the beach, you will very likely reach less treacherous waters.
I’ve just come here from a video on rips by Trent Maxwell (who works as a Bondi Lifeguard in Australia), his video is far less showy but far more informative. I highly recommend it.
When I was 13 my friends and I were surfing and we got stuck in a rip current and we were struggling for like 15 minutes to stay afloat and we were yelling for help. I got so tired and I felt like giving up. We got rescued and we were done surfing for the day after that.
I was never taught how to get out of on of these so last year, it was just like she described, I looked back to see my family shouting at me to get back after swimming out at least 50' and used common sense to swim not straight back but how they described it. Thought I was going to die
when i was about 8 i was out in the ocean with my younger sister and cousin. we looked back and all of a sudden we were out left and way far away from where my family was. being so young i didn't understand what was happening but i think my cousin did. once we had feet on the ground we tried running towards shore but it just sunk us deeper and farther away from the shore. we eventually decided to go sideways and luckily we made it out.
Once i was at the beach during the night (dont ask why i was there so late....and no i didnt go into the water) and there was this group of people crying hysterically screaming someones name out into the ocean...i dont even want to know what happened but i think i already know...i feel so bad for them😢
Got caught in one today while surfing in Washington state on Straights of Juan de Fuca. No bueno. And I can confirm you cannot paddle faster than the rip current. By the time I figured it out I was 200 yards away from beach well beyond all others. Don’t panic and paddle or swim parallel to beach to get out of it. 🏄♂️🌊
When I hear about this I think about how lucky I am, in the 90's when I was about 7 or 8 years old I would go boogie boarding in La Jolla and actually loved to find a riptide to take me out far, but I didn't know it was a dangerous thing back then, it was just like a fast way to get out far. Once I got so far I could barely see the beach, I would float around for a while out there where it was calm with my board and wait for some good waves to ride back. My parents didn't even care. Maybe they didn't know about riptides either since we were from AZ. For whatever reason though I just remember there being so many different people way out there in the ocean with me, people just chilling so far out in the calm waters, maybe they were surfing or boogie boarding too. It was really fun, just dangerous now that I think of it, and thinking of sharks now, ugh, lol.
I grew up in San Diego and I was always so scared of rip currents, even when I was little. The signs scared me. I never went into the deep water. I would just use my boogie board to ride the baby waves that were close to shore. Lol
Yeah, all the swimming to get my surfboard out to a set in Maui would've been aided by the perfect rip, but it's definitely dicey IMO unless you really know where it ends and there's experienced people around to keep you company. In very rough chop, and/or by myself, I don't want to get pulled out, especially when the 100 yard mark represents a sudden dropoff where bull sharks are known to lurk.
ETA: when I say "by myself", I ALWAYS have someone at least keeping an eye on me from shore. I hope nobody ever truly goes into the ocean completely alone.
I got caught in a rip current twice on two occasions while body surfing in San Francisco last year. I had to swim myself out, duck diving with the waves so as not to be tumbled like a washing machine. Swim diagonal, not parallel to shore- swim with a few waves, and after 2-3 minutes, you'll hit land and be able to walk right out of the water!
Those whirlpools at the end of the rip current are scary. You see, in nature nothing can be formed out of nothing and dissolve into nothing, so if you fill a glass with water you will never drink more water than it is in the bottle. Therefore, when the waves push the water towards the shore, it builds up and has to go back. It just can't stay above the normal water level. So it finds a nice spot to go back, and where water goes there is the whirlpool.
I got caught in a rip current a month ago on the Fort Lauderdale beach while lifegaurds were on duty just not watching. I am still terrified to this day. I am just lucky my dad was able to grab me
I used to swim in deep water and strong wave when I was kid no equiqments..but then nothings happen to me sometime I go far and deeper is hard to comeback, I never know it was called (rip current) one time I experience like this I just follow the wave to take me far after that I come back.
what the people saying this is dramatic don't understand is that when you've got water left and right and below you and waves smacking into your face while realizing that you're really far from where you were moments ago, full blown panic hits you smack dab in the face with no mercy. it's not that easy to 'just swim away from it' or the death toll wouldn't have been so high
amna exactly my point. You won't know where is parallel and where is that "diagonal path". By the time most people realize it is already 100 meters. That will be like 300 meters of swimming if you count all the floating, detouring and other maneuvers. Scary stuff..
@@rital312 yeah be carefull playing tho cuz sometimes you underestermate them most of the time its fine but if ur surfing point breaks on near jetties you dont wanna get smashed in the rock same with swimming
it did NOT suck you hundreds of feet away from the shore as you claim. In fact it is more like less than 100 yard. Rip currents normally dissipate in about a 100 yard from shore where it is deeper so that the current does not have enough volume to carry on.
Swim on your back and make yourself laugh (when a wave isn't breaking of course!), it drops your heart rate and prevents panic. 80% of rip currents return you back to shore so if you are not a strong swimmer the best bet is to chill out and enjoy the ride, most of the time it returns you to the beach. Swimming sideways is my last resort bc that is still exhausting and still comes with risk of drowning. I learned this after nearly drowning as a kid.
I survived RIP current after a successful CPR in Karachi, Pakistan. Now because of the PTSD, unfortunately, I can't go the sea water. I'm planning sessions with a coast guard's for systemic desensitisation.
She feels like the Avengers. Superhero. The “cool” crap people think they have to banter about nowadays. She could have just talked about the circumstances of one of her being pulled out instances etc. Or another person’s experience/story.
at oregon coast sometimes, the current flow along the shoreline was so fast (maybe 30 miles per hour) and so long, i couldnt even guess the size of this "rip current feeder area", and no visible waves there, i didnt see whirlpool there. this video was the only one that said about the size of the rip curent about 100 yards far out. but from oregon's news once i watched, "rip current feeder length to its mouth of it seemed like a mile long and not 50 yards , this kind of rip current i saw in real life reminded me a hell or ultima underworld 8 pagan's ocean, dreadful. so fast so big
Yesterday night i was out with friends celebrating birthday to a friend of mine. We stayed there all night i remember getting high with them and then go to swim in the sea. I spent almost the whole night just swimming in the sea while getting high with a break of 10 minutes after swimming for like an hour and repeat. Somewhere between 4AM and 5AM i decided to go swimming and my friend who was the birthday girl decided to join me. We went into the sea and i stated chilling like always and still touching the ground, and she liked to lay on her back and close her eyes, and thats what lead her to get caught in a rip. While i was still chilling in q safe zone, i remember her screaming my name and at first i thought she was calling for me from the shore because she was worried but then i realized that her screaming went from a deeper place in the sea. I rememver that i immediately started swimming towards her to try to get her out or at least help her but then i suddenly felt the intense water that was sucking me into the sea. We started swimming towards the shore with all of our power and i was so high i started panicking while screaming to her to keep on swimming. I was so close to give up because i was so tired and then she screamed at me that she feel the ground, and then i just started swimming as fast as i can and i felt that too. We eventually managed to survive that rip and get back to the shore but that was the last time of that night that i entered the sea.
I survived an intense rip in Florida while on vacation. I was only 16 years old and I was alone getting carried off very far from shore. When I realized it, I didn't panic. I stayed behind the line of wave breaks and allowed the current to continue carrying me out, floating at times to save energy. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get to some water I could actually swim in and then I made it back to shore. I then walked miles from somewhere at Daytona Beach back to New Smyrna Beach where my family was. When I finally made it back they didn't even realize I was gone or what had happened. I'm so grateful I didn't panic and even though I was deeper into the ocean that day than ever in my life I made it out in one piece. Best tip is DO NOT PANIC.
Edit: I was a tourist and so was my family. My family had told me at that time that where the cars were parked on the beach just a little ways down from where our hotel was located is where Daytona Beach started. This was incorrect information that some locals in the comments corrected me on! I was only 16 at the time and a visitor, but I did end up miles down the beach somewhere near the dunes at the end of New Smyrna Beach a ways north of the Moontide Condominiums we were renting out from., and I did walk back which took me about 30-40 minutes to reach where my family was which was my point of entry into the ocean. I was exhausted and it was a very hot day as well. The water was extremely choppy that day and the rip was strong that day as well. I had no previous knowledge of rip currents before the day I wound up in one.
🤍
Well done! How did your family act when you told them?
Don’t you swim sideways/diagonally? Since the rip current is only going perpendicular to the shore?
@@brettruss3359 I never told them 🤣
@@person8834 I wasn't sure what to do, my main concern was to not wear myself out so I wouldn't drown. My feet couldn't touch the ground, the water was cold and very choppy that day so I mostly just let it carry me out. It's possible there was a better way to deal with it, but no one saw me so if I had tired myself out I would have drowned
I was in Madeira Beach, Fl. in 1978 with my two doberman dogs by my side. They decided to run into the water. I thought no sweat, they just want to cool down. All of a sudden I see them going farther and farther out to sea. I jumped up and swam after them. Was really easy to catch up to them because I felt the water was actually pulling us out to sea. THEN, I realized we were in a rip-current. In the first moment I panicked, but then I remembered what a fisherman told me about rip-currents. So, I turned on my back and grabbing the collars of both dogs, I concentrated just keeping my and their heads out of the water. With my "turbo-prop" legs I tried to guide us to shore, going first parallel to the shore. Soon, I felt we were making progress and my feet touch bottom. Home with them, and never again did I take them to the beach.
Well done! I'm glad you knew what to do. Instead of swimming straight back against the current you swam parallel out of the riptide.
I have a similar story but I was at a 5 star reviewed beach in the bahamas
@@potatospud7903
We are all lucky to have survived!
Damn. Nicely done. Rip currents sucks. Sometimes they're difficult to spot. Another owner would've probably let them drown.
@@alextogo8367
Thanks, they mean (meant) everything to me!
I'm a rip current expert I have my masters degree in ripology 101 and the best way to avoid get ripped by the rip as we call it, Is to not get into the water. I'm glad I answered all your questions now I must go back down into my mothers basement
G G 😂
Epic.
Lmao😂😂
G G lol that made my day 😂😂😂👌
Lol 😂😂😂😂😂
From 25 years as a surfer I can tell you that that urge to head straight back in is a very strong urge. Don’t presume just because you know it’s bad that you won’t do it anyway in a panicked state.
Yep. Happened to me today. First thing is to recognize it. I was exhausted by the time I figured it out and paddled parallel 🏄♂️
With regards to surfing, I remember the biggest issue in Hawaii was tryin to swim OUT through the waves, but being an avid swimmer (including swim team) helped me stay conditioned and confident. When it comes to Florida I'm usually boogeyboarding if the water is rough, but the surf is usually hard for catching a good wave because you get so many right behind one another with very few easily defined sets. I've felt the strong pull a few times, but luckily if it's rough I'm not diving/snorkeling so I always have the board with me. Sometimes kicks alone don't move me strongly enough, even with my short board fins, so I tuck the board further under my stomach and then use my hands to add some power, and it gets me out of it. Nobody is outswimming the strongest rips, but the average or lower end ones I can usually handle. Still, respect the water, ALWAYS, and keep in mind that predators are out there too. I'll never get cocky about handling open water.
I would have this urge, but only because I want to test my swimming skills and see if I will be able to push through the current
@@jimmcneal5292 tried going against current in a wave pool river, not a normal lazy river. Couldn’t do it, not even with my feet planted and it’s only 5 mph. Even Micheal Phelps could only swim at 6 mph
Would have been helpful seeing her swimming parallel to the beach for 20-30' out of the rip current rather than getting a ride every time. All they showed is that you need a Sea-doo or rescuer to get out of a rip current.
Exactly. She showed people what a rip current does, but not how to safely get back to shore yourself. Like you said, let it take you passed the waves, and swim sideways out of the current, parallel to shore, and ride a wave back in.
breckandy Cause news is all about fear cause fear gets more people to watch. Spending the few minutes explaining how you can get out of it is essentially wasted ratings. I bet you they actually filmed the part where she escapes herself but producers cut it.
:-)
They should have thrown in a shark or 2 and couple of buckets of chum to make it more interesting
breckandy Like those survivor or reality shows where they'll cut into shots of some lion or snake that's not even in the same country as the contestant.
breckandy exactly.
one of my friends recently drowned in a rip current. its hard to think thats hes really gone even though i still hear his young voice in my head. wish he knew what to do. its would save his life and so many people from such saddness. truly rest in peace, i love you.
R.I.P 🙏🏾👑
😢 damn god bless his soul and bless his family and friends
Rest in peace 😢
Rest in peace
Shouldn't she try to get back the shore using her own tip? Instead she takes a ride
It's hard not to panic swallowing salt water. I got swept out once but my girlfriend was with me and she'd served in the Navy.and talked me through it.
You git the f@ck out with your logic 'n shit
Right, I thought she was going to get back in the water and show how to ride the circle
Apparently her trick didn't work out too well.
Winterx69 😂😂😂
Me and my mom went to the beach yesterday and we got caught in a riptide. We were enjoying the waves like everyone else at the beach and there was a lot of people swimming. We didn't even realize until our feet couldn't touch the floor anymore and the waves were pulling us away from the shore. It was terrifying to see my mom being pulled further and further away from me as she pushed me to save me but I kept swimming towards her because I'm not going to let her drown. On top of that, wave after wave kept on hitting us. We were swimming with all of our force but the riptide was taking us. Lucky, a lifeguard came to save us! One of the most scariest things ever.
your lucky im 12 and my cousin is a big 13 year old thete was no life guard so there was a guy luckily watching us so he helped us
Alyssa *My mom and I...
AlwaysAJ I
Alyssa & Jay well I was 13 alone when I caught up to a rip current on a non lifeguarded beach. I swam sideways and got out.😅😅😅
Is this the right forum? Someone almost drowned, and you are correcting English?
Watch from 4:05 til the end of the video. You're welcome.
rousseaupatrick94 lmfao! Hahahahahahahaha
😂🤣 thanks
Someone give this man a medal
Who is here after shad wen missing for saving his son
Luis Beltran I am
Me too, the local news in LA needs to rerun this PSA, I never knew this info, that's the least they can do, so he doesn't die in vain.
Somewhat yeah. I was actually at the same beach at the same spot today. Where his body was found. There was a squad of lifeguards. Those waves were strong. Felt like I was in one of those currents. And waves were coming back to back When I made it back to shore I was about 25 yards away from where I started😂 sucked ass.
@@alextogo8367 I'm from cali but recently moved to AZ I heard Cali was on lockdown cause of coviid or is it over and ppl can go out as they plz I was surprised I thought nobody can go to the beach that is awesome tho Az suck no beach only lake waterfall jeje
@@LB-lx8iq it's still on lockdown. The parking lots, piers, dine in restaurants and such are still close. And can still walk to the beaches though. And as long as you're keeping your distance from other people.👍 Ironically the lakes are still close. I prefer lakes over oceans, because I enjoy swimming.
Dr. Newdell here: Mind you, Ginger is a young phys. fit woman. Older, less fit people should understand to swim sideways parallel to the beach if they find they're suddenly distant from shore. Cold water and swimming when you have not for perhaps years will tire you quickly, so remember the advice given in this video and others here, wait at least 45-minutes after eating to swim, and observe the surf before going out. The low "valley"s on the beach and smooth blue green "roads" going out are rip-currents. They're like drains pulling you out. Avoid them. Swim where life guards say you're safe, between flags, and raise a hand and call out if you're in trouble.
Way to plug your Doc status there Steve ... do you ask that everyone refer to you as "Doctor Newdell"? Hubris, ever heard of it?
@@keithferguson734 He's giving help and you're being an asshole.
Not a Dr here: fat people float better.
I got caught in a brutal current in Hawaii..got sucked out pretty far, initially tried swimming to shore but realized I wasn't making any progress, so swam across it..when I finally reached shore I was a good 1/3 mile away from where I entered...I didn't panic, good swimmer, pretty comfortable in open waters, but I can imagine if someone weren't it could've turned much worse
In Molokini crater off Maui they had us swim to the 300' drop off at the edge, and they said that you'd face a very strong current (the water is only 2 feet deep at the edge, so it has a really big sucking action outwards), but not to panic, and let it carry you out and they'll pick you up in the zodiac. The minute I felt the pull I said "Forget that nonsense", as I looked down into the dark abyss and pictured a big old shark smiling up from the depths at me (which later on they did photograph a great white doing exactly that down there). I kicked my fins so hard and broke loose from the current and made it back to the boat in one piece.
yes eveyrone with rip current in trouble , don't NO HOW to SWIM PEROD. THEY ARE FUN, I float on them float out at 50 yard tiil it stop, the current waves bring me back in no problem enjoy the ocean, swimming in the big waves is enjoyable. No big deal.
I was sucked out and almost didn’t make it back. Scariest moment of my entire life.
Same, I was exhausted and thought I was gonna drown. I relaxed and swam along the wave and managed to get out safely. This was at Laguna Beach. Where were you?
Happened to me in ixtapa and I never learned anything about rip currents, I swam straight and tired myself out and drank so much water, after that I didn’t get in. It happened so fast where I couldn’t feel the ground
Once i swim in santa maria beach,i got condom stuck in my face
Horror like that haunts you for life
did you swim parallel to shore? if so when you did that was it hard to get out of
happened to me too, in a bar last Saturday, her name was Kate. It was that good I almost didn't make it back to my Mrs. Wasn't the scariest moment of my life like your event though, even thought we experienced the same thing?
As we say in Australia white is nice, green is mean!
So the white foam is where the waves come to shore, and the green water without foam is going out?
Thank you. Can we make her comment the Top so everyone can see instantly.
This is the best advice I have got. Thanks so much
I'm a Nigerian and over here we just fear the whole beach without understanding what's really happening. Many have died though. Always same story, "he/she got pulled far into the water and drowned... They couldn't find the body".
stop being racist.
@@loneshadow6692 can you explain exactly where in her comment is she being racist? and prior to that can you uppercut yourself please? Thank you
I've experienced rips on the Atlantic ocean that move almost parallel to the beach. What I've been told is when the current is moving horizontal let it take you down the beach and relax. It will take you to a weaker part of the current where you may be able to swim back in on your own.
Exactly, don't fight the current by swimming into it, trying to get back to land. Let the current take you where it will, probably very horizontal route, if you do not panic, you will find shallow water down stream to swim back to land. You can easily be a mile down the water stream (or more) but letting the current take you to a safer route to swim back to shore is the way to beat a rip tide.
A buddy of mine who's a VERY strong swimmer was out for this usual workout one day, and he kept making slower progress than usual as he swan up and down the beach, and yeah, the current was the issue. It was kind of funny in hindsight, because it was more an obstacle than a threat since it was a parallel (to the beach) current.
The current that goes along the beach is not a rip. It’s a longshore current usually associated with swell. In summer long shore pushes from south to north in winter from north to south.
@GUMMYBEAYUH i used to swim as a workout on various beaches around the world parallel to shore and experienced parralel currents pretty frequently and would treat them as a treadmill so to speak in the ocean. i need to respect the potential power that these currents can have though it seems after researching them more. i was a daily ocean swimmer for around nearly an entire year and never experienced anything strong enough to carry me completely against my will for anything past 50 to 100 yards or so. looking back on it, i may i have been a little reckless as a i cared about was getting my daily workout in and even swam in storms pretty frequently... yeah not smart i know. at the time i thought off myself as a dolphin or something lol..The ocean is so much fun but also should be treated with great respect.
I’m 26 just now learning about this. I feel so dumb to not know this was a danger. I’m happy to have the knowledge now for my kiddos.
Got stuck in a rip current at Laguna Beach about 4 years ago. For some reason I remembered hearing somewhere to swim along the waves in order to get out and was able to make it out of the water safe.
I was waiting for her advise but was shocked when the guard came to help 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
My youngest daughter was swimming alone in the water, about a meter deep, while I stood on the shore with my eldest daughter, who was completely unaware of the danger nearby. I kept a close eye on my youngest, glancing back every now and then to make sure she was safe. Everything seemed perfectly normal-just another beautiful day at the beach.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of unease. I decided to join her in the water, just to be closer, just in case. As I waded in and reached her, I casually mentioned that it was time to go home. But then something strange happened-I felt the sand shift beneath my feet. We tried to walk back to the shore, but it felt like we were being pulled away by some invisible force.
Panic set in. We were being carried out to sea by a rip current, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The water that had seemed so calm just moments before was now our enemy. My heart pounded as I fought to stay on my feet, but it was no use. We were being dragged further and further from safety, and there was no one around to help. To make matters worse, neither of us knew how to swim. The situation was dire, and my mind raced with fear.
In that moment, I felt completely helpless. The current was relentless, and I had no idea how to save us. My daughter was right next to me, facing the shore, but terror was written all over her face. Time seemed to slow down, and I knew we only had a few seconds to act. There was no time to think-only to react.
In a desperate attempt to save my daughter, I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed her and, with all my strength, threw her to the right, toward the shore, away from the deadly current. It was a risk, a split-second decision that I hoped would save her life.
I watched her splash into the water a few meters away from me, and without hesitation, I lunged after her, grabbing her hand and pulling with all my might. The current was still trying to drag us back, but somehow, we managed to inch closer to the shore. My muscles burned, my lungs screamed for air, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.
Finally, we reached the shallows, and the current began to lose its grip. I pulled my daughter to shore, both of us gasping for breath, shaking with shock. We survived, but just barely.
It was only later that I learned about rip currents and how they can turn a peaceful day at the beach into a life-or-death struggle. I had never heard of them before, but now I know all too well how dangerous they are. That day could have ended in tragedy, but somehow, we survived.
A completely new concept to me, I'm sire 90% of people who enter the beach no nothing about this
4m 28s summed up as this.
Dont try to fight the current.
Swim to the side till out of the current, then swim back to shore.
Done.
Would have been cool if she showed us how it works...
Other than being hot she’s worthless
They are terrifying because of the way they just take you. You can’t feel it but, they do just grab you and suddenly, without knowing, you’re going 7 m/s away from the shore
A while back I once unknowingly got caught in a RIP that pulled me out far from the beach. Luckily I had my boogey board and I just ended up using that to catch a wave back to the beach. I didn't even know or attempt to go back where I came from like most people do when they get caught in a rip. The whole time I didnt even know that my life was in danger. I just thought that I had lost track of how far I went out.
This has happened to me multiple times as a kid in the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. Realizing I was so far from my family and just dreading the way back or trying to catch a solid wave back in. Horrifying thinking back to how often and how young I was!
The only way to survive is to stay calm. Don’t fight the water. Wait it out. Float. Understand the situation and relax.
How useless! She didn't demonstrate it in the clip, caught rides, but SPEAK about what one should do after? Booo! USELESS SEGMENT.
It shows at the end of the video what to do. 4:07
4:15 "and then you can get back to where you came from"
as in AFTER you're out of the rip current, start swimming back to shore.
But yea, they did brush through that quick. 4 minute video and only 10 seconds of saying what we should do after. Laziness on their part
ye but its useless if she cant even use her own tip
Who else was waiting for her to show us how to survive a rip current?
Good to be tuned in to these “current” events.
I’m a great swimmer and I was in Miami couple of months ago, I was swimming and out of nowhere it got very deep and I started to get sucked into the ocean and I realized that swimming back was not doing anything, I started to get tired and I definitely thought this was it, I was gonna die, eventually I was able to get back , but best advise I can tell u is if u take your family to the ocean don’t go deeper than your knees and I will never swim in the ocean again, rememembering that experience I can tell u that any other person with mediocre swimming skills would have drowned, I was so lucky I didn’t die
Unless you have a surf board. You ride a wave back to shore
If this is what a "great" swimmer is, I'm not sure what adjective is left for those of us who are trying for open water anyway and won't be setting foot in the shallows for a couple of hours.
A caveat to the don’t go deeper than your knees - learn how to spot a rip current from the beach and avoid going into the water in that area altogether. Some rip currents are so strong that it can pull you out even if you’re wading calf deep in the water.
Maybe "Elite"? Lol. Hey, I'll take the title if it's being offered.
The same thing just happened to me a week ago in Puerto Rico I’m honestly scared to get back in the ocean after that experience I won’t go anything past my knees. It ruined my vacation for sure
How many people are watching this because of Shad Gaspard ?
omnifilm ayeee
Same G
Me lol
Me
Same 😢
I been in one on the ocean in Florida. It was VERY rough and a storm was approaching. The beach was closed for swimming and I went in. My smart friend stayed on shore. All of a sudden I was being swept out VERY quickly. I didn't panic but I knew I was in big trouble. Luckily I grew up on lake Erie and have been in similar situations but not quite as intense as this. What I did was dive to the bottom and basically claw my hands and feet into the sand like a dog and come up for air when I needed it. I was completely exhausted when I made it back to shore and the first thing I did was kiss the beach. Panama City Beach to be exact. That's my advice. Had I tried to battle the current by swimming I'd be dead FOR SURE
Thank you!
Lol was this written by an ai? This video explains the correct thing to do. Diving under water just increases your oxygen debt.
How deep is bottom? Claw your way to the bottom wastes energy! What then? Hold your breath?
I was a teenager back in the 70's and lived in a beach town on Lake Michigan.
This whole "new" strategy just came out a few years ago. Guess what RIP currents have been around for ever. We used play in the water during high waves. Loved the white caps and figured it out way back then. If it sucked you out, just do a float on your back. It might be aways, but eventually it bring you back to shore. Maybe the next town over, so you had a walk.
So, when they came out with this campaign a few years ago, it was like No Shit lol.
If it didn't work, I wouldn't be here. FYI I'm not a very strong swimmer. We figured it out watching drift wood. Human nature, you're going to take the easy way. So, float and don't wear yourself out.
There more mishaps here because tourist come here and think Lake Michigan is a big swimming pool since it's an inland lake and not the ocean. They get surprised by the RIP currents. Know the water before you go into it. Stay safe!
Oh, Hello Ginger. I was one your weather spotters when you were in Chicago doing wx and chasing tornado's.
Ive been right there where she was. The Levee behind here is at the southern end of Mission beach. In 1988 I was 18 years old and traveled from Oklahoma to Mission Beach California on a adventure. I was a very good swimmer...and outdoors person growing up in the country. I was about to go out in the ocean in this exact same spot...right at the levee. This really young kid came running up and told me not to go in. I almost didn't listen to him, but something inside me made me stop. I had never seen the ocean before. Now 31 years later I see this. That kid saved my life.
I think they said half the story. The other half is it is basically close to impossible for an ordinary vacationer to escape the rip. Look at the girl, by the way of her swimming ahe is not a beginner. Even she couldn't make it out on her own without a help and she was prepared, equipped and aware. If it was an ordinary Joe, by the time he understands he is in a rip he will be very well disoriented. After he realizes that he is in a rip current comes the difficult part. How does he know where to swim? With those waves pounding you it is very difficult to make a right choise. Then after swimming diagonally there is still a chance of getting into the same rip current if it is kinda like a twisted in shape. To sum up, without a help or a floating stuff you are as good as dead. Very few people have capabilities to stay afloat for 30 minutes or more or who can swim 300-400meters.
I appreciate your comment, because I never get cocky about just how dangerous water can be, despite the fact that I can swim for hours and miles at a time nonstop. No one is invincible, some of us are just more capable of handling it, but those if us who are more capable tend to respect the dangers and plan for them ahead of time. Pretending that dangers don't exist is not something that an experienced swimmer would ever do.
Very true. Some people can’t tread water for more than 5 mins. Throw in waves and panic and it’s even shorter.
I’m a really strong swimmer and I was caught in a rip current whilst swimming in Miami South Beach, November last year
After a few alcoholic beverages I thought it would be a good idea to swim out ‘until my feet didn’t touch the ground’ There were a few waves crashing about so I swam in the water which looked “calmer”. Then I thought it would be cool to go past the floating buoys and then turn back.
Then as I started trying to swim back I noticed I wasn’t getting any closer to shore and I was getting a LOT more tired than usual. There were no lifeguards on duty and I was so far out that I doubt anyone would’ve seen/ heard me even if I signalled for help.
Luckily I remember watching a couple of UA-cam videos about rips and the main thing they said to do is NOT TO PANIC. So I took a deep breath, filled my lungs with oxygen and started to float on my back. Once I got my breath back, I started swimming horizontally to shore doing what I call the “octopus” stroke 😂😂
Took me around 15 minutes to get out of the rip and back to shore but it felt like a LIFETIME. (It didn’t help that I brushed alongside some jellyfish that I thought were deadly on the way back either)
The day after the ordeal there were extreme rip current warnings for Miami Beach and lifeguards weren’t letting anyone go further than knee deep..
I’m a very composed individual and even I was SURE I was going to die that day
Safe to say I won’t be drinking next time I go in the sea..
Drinking and then swimming is insane
I always just swim out, and the ocean whispers "not today..." and brings me back to shore...
Short version: stay calm. Don't swim against ripcurrent. swim parallel to the beach (perpendicular to ripcurrent) a relatively short distance until you are out of ripcurrent and then swim back to shore. 4:00
My 5 year old sister got hit by a deadly wave , luckily i held her which put more weight on the sand and luckily we escaped.
I got caught in a rip twice at Byron Bay when i was about 12/13 years old. It really sucked because at that age i didn't know what to look for, and there was a rather deep channel running out to sea where the rip was. It was especially strong at high tide. First time i got out pretty quick as i was closer to shore and was able to get good footing, but the second time, hell, i put my feet down and could only barely touch, and i could feel myself getting pulled out.
My brother was off snorkeling around a wreck so he was no good to me, suddenly i remembered my swimming classes at school and my teacher telling us what to do if we ever got caught in a rip, so i started swimming across the rip. I remember thinking "If MIss Ranger could see me now!!!" I made it out of the channel then it was about waist deep and i walked out. Never went swimming there again, and am pretty reluctant to go in the surf anywhere unless conditions are pretty much perfect.
My neighbor just died yesterday due to a riptide sucking him and his 2 kids out. He drowned trying to save his kids. Luckily they survived but he didn't.
4 of my friends and I almost died due to rip current last week Saturday. Thank God we were able to get back to the short.
The number one thing to do when in a rip is to remain calm.... so ABC make it looks scary.... Logic.
I agree...."IN SECONDS IM PULLED OUT"
So calm you do nothing, just sink.
The bg music. Love it
It's scary, and If you can't get help or don't know exactly what do you have a high chance of dying, doesn't matter how good a swimmer you are.
Good info,I could watch you all day.
Yes....Aussie former beach swimmer here, also having done my bronze medallion..(open water swimming and ocean safety qualification that is basic prerequisite to becoming a surf lifesaver in Australia)...Rules are..Never panic....learn to float....you can float for hours and use very little energy...Lay in the water horizontally to conserve energy either on your front or back...If possible swim sideways to the rip direction....rips are often narrow...and once out of the rip you can let normal wave action help you back to shore. Never try to swim directly against the rip.... Rips are basically the way that water that builds up against the shore from waves get carried back to the ocean...it's simply a circulatory system. Rips are also a surfers best friend to get out the back of the wave area without wasting energy fighting against waves to get out the back.
Thanks for sharing the useful experience. All best wishes and good health
Never thought tk much about current until i seen a man get pulled out beyond sight. And this week a few men pulled out 3 found next day, and 1 dead. A beach at i frequent
You’re saving thousands this summer Shad. RIP
The waves aren’t supposed to break until they are close to the beach, so when you go far out you can just hop over the waves
I'm sure every life guard volunteered for this detail!
Not a very helpful video; seems done for show only & w the expense of the US Coast Guard. Seen much better demo videos.
When i was surfing alot in hawaii back in th 80s at a north shore spot as the tide got higher the waves do too , long story short 3 surfers & I in an instant were in a Rip going out several hundred yards moving paralel with the shore ,i was the most experienced only to know that this rip takes you to Kauai, i remember being told you can nevet swim against the current but you can try to go sideways ,in this case it would be to the shore, i explained to the others ,couple of them were scared and wanted to float to where ever it would take them & hope their friends would get help I told them No we stick together , we can do it long story short after 45 -50 mins of paddleing to reach shore we made it to shore several miles down from where we started with the help of the waves pounding us to shore but just glad to be alive , was an experience that will stand out in life, with the Moral of "never give up" very scary tho......thanx for the Vlog👊✌🤙
I went in one in Greece and made it back to the beach absolutely exhausted
I just realized more than a decade later that this is the thing that almost killed me when I was 8 in Madagascar.
Luckily some white guy out of nowhere saved me, I was very lucky since that beach was deserted.
My friend Matilda and I got stuck in it, luckily I'm a strong swimmer and I got out easily but she wasn't so lucky. She had to scream for help and she was far out for 5 minutes and I was so scared for her, I swallowed so much water and I though she was going to drown. But someone came to rescue her. And they weren't a lifeguard the lifeguards did nothing to help the swimmers were the people who helped. We were lucky that we got out.
You’re not a strong swimmer
@@steadyfetti You are correct strong swimmers don't swallow a lot of water.
I'm a very strong swimmer, and I've taken gulps of water here and there. Sometimes it's next to impossible not to get a gulp when you're in really heavy crashing chop. I've never had to stop swimming because of it, though (just once as a kid, but I kept on swimming after I composed myself and finished the race at least). Everybody's definition of "good swimmer" is definitely different, though, my one friend thinks he's really good but he can't maintain a stroke for more than a lap or two at a time (25m pool). I worry about some people, and I say this as someone who's been in all kinds of water and can swim for many miles and hours at a time. If you're experienced, then you also understand realistic dangers and prepare for them. It's the somewhat capable but inexperienced and super lucky types that I worry about the most.
me and my mom got stuck in one. I realized that we were getting pulled out pretty fast and told my mom she was too far out. she didn't believe me but listen and slowly tried to come in. thinking she was behind me I rode the few weak waves that were coming in along with kicking furiously no you're standard stroke more of like using my legs and feet as flippers, and somehow I made it into a relatively safer area only to look back and see my mom still struggling to get nearer to the shore. however it wasn't just her this time there was a little kid getting sucked out as well. a lifeguard came and asked my mom if she. needed help she declined and eventually made it to the. beach (it wasn't tremendously strong but it. was quick) however it was then that I noticed the kid bring pulled further away from us and the lifeguard began to swim to him and guide him in. two other kids eventually got. sucked out a little later on and the family and lifeguard had. to go get them. no one was hurt but boy was it scary. I don't know how I managed to get. myself in I never learned the standard stroke I have a more natural way of kicking. I chalk it up to God, my astrological sign Pisces a fish, and my respect of the ocean.
I was at a beach near a reef for a day with my family. The water was crystal clear and the scenery was amazing. As we walked up (we were never there before) we couldn't see really any waves. It looked pretty much even. Im always pretty cautious at a beach for the first time but i got a little jump scare when i entered that water. As you enter the water the inital portion is a constant ~1 foot deep but then all of a sudden one stem and it goes down 2 more feet almost instantly think 80 degree slope. Man did i get scared and i could see the ocean floor too but i didn't see that. After that the beach is level for a long time and then barely slopes down. But again there were no waves but now i noticed swells coming in. They were not really tall maby 10 cm above the normal water level. But when the first one hit it moved me with it with incredible force. If you tried to stay still it would move you a few steps forward no matter what. But that was more of an interesting finding. These small swells with more force than 10 foot tall waves i sat at other beaches ive been to (thats the kind of beach my family likes. we likes being in the giant waves). That isn't the main thing though. Only when the swells came did the water move otherwise it was effectively a pool. But i walked out a little farther then as i was taking a step underwater the water my foot hit was all of a sudden old. From pretty warm to cold in an instant. I stepped in to cold and back out into warmth. Now i was a little spooked cause sometimes there are pokets of cool water but they tend to move and arent really actually cold. I took another carefull stem then a current crazy stong pushed my foot to the left. I stepped forward to get it back on the ground then it grapped and pulled at my whole body. I tried by best to stabalize but could only manage to slow my leftward motion i had to keep moving my feet left not to be pushed over. My body was sort of shoecked by the cold water and i was beginning to panic but i was able to step forward after only a few seconds in the current. But i had moved several metres left. I had check the water infront already so i new that was safe but i was suprized by the insane speed of the water. While this was the cause if panic i showed my family who could swill well the current and it became a source of entertainment after the lifguard showed up. I couldn't quite outswim it in its strongest spot put my dad and cousin could and i had seen that the current actually goes into a shallow reef and not out to sea so it was not any any point life threatening unless you panicked since you could still touch the ground. A crazy beach that really shows the power of the ocean. It just casually flings you around as if you were a feather in the wind.
Something to keep in mind thank you for this.
They are so overly dramatic! Rips are crazy dangerous and gnarly but really coast guard? A lifeguard on a board is all that's needed
Remember to swim back to shore downward of the rip current otherwise you get caught in it again.
In the illustration, the swimmer returned to the left of the rip, well... you go out again.
Be cognisant of the wind direction/ general water current before entering for a rec. swim (pools excluded)
"deadlier than lightning, hurricanes and tornados combined" .......... ok ginger.
it claims more lifes because people dont know what to do when it happens.
siri H it kills more people because we always see tornado safety videos and everything but this literally just says is your in a riptide call a lifeguard,well where I’m from there are no lifeguards so good luck getting out
That's called statistics - she hyped 4 sure that statement... This is how people steal your attention
That statistic is literally impossible. The Rip Current kills people in the water. On any given day at the beach, you might see a few hundred ppl on the shore, and 50 at most in the water, because news like this makes ppl into terrified landlubbers. Lightning covers the entire continent, and tornado’s most of the South. Several hundred thousand square feet vs. a coastline. Same goes for shark attacks, thought they lie with statistics there too.
@@Tempusverum Yeah lol I've been going to beaches to swim in the sea all of my life nearly, so about 30 years... Being absolutely honest I didn't even know these things existed.
I knew about tide and currents and how much effect those things have....But yeah I agree, I don't think people need to be afraid to swim in the sea. As you quite nicely put it "terrified landlubbers", we don't need those.
Useful video but the pretense was poor, I agree.
For the answer to "How to Survive", go to 4:05
Thankyou for the great information. Thankyou ❤❤
2:95
Rips aren’t that obvious, most of the time they’re just darker patches of water, not massive swirls in the sea.
Excellent video! Thanks 🌊
4:00 For the answer.
0:00 - 4:00 if you want to see them just play in a rip current and get rescued every time.
Got Caught In A Rip Current When i Was 4 Years Old My Big Sister Knew How To Escape It And I Got Saved I Thank My Big Sister ❤️
Indeed, msmusik, the water did get deeper as you got closer to shore. You were walking down from a sand bar into slightly deeper waters. Rip currents form when water goes back to the ocean from the beach between side-by-side sand bars. You must relax and swim parallel to shore for a short time. As the reporter said, the rip currents themselves often aren't very wide. By swimming parallel to the beach, you will very likely reach less treacherous waters.
I’ve just come here from a video on rips by Trent Maxwell (who works as a Bondi Lifeguard in Australia), his video is far less showy but far more informative. I highly recommend it.
Thank you for the awareness and advice.
When I was 13 my friends and I were surfing and we got stuck in a rip current and we were struggling for like 15 minutes to stay afloat and we were yelling for help. I got so tired and I felt like giving up. We got rescued and we were done surfing for the day after that.
Very nice information 👌
I was never taught how to get out of on of these so last year, it was just like she described, I looked back to see my family shouting at me to get back after swimming out at least 50' and used common sense to swim not straight back but how they described it. Thought I was going to die
glad to hear you did it :)'
when i was about 8 i was out in the ocean with my younger sister and cousin. we looked back and all of a sudden we were out left and way far away from where my family was. being so young i didn't understand what was happening but i think my cousin did. once we had feet on the ground we tried running towards shore but it just sunk us deeper and farther away from the shore. we eventually decided to go sideways and luckily we made it out.
Once i was at the beach during the night (dont ask why i was there so late....and no i didnt go into the water) and there was this group of people crying hysterically screaming someones name out into the ocean...i dont even want to know what happened but i think i already know...i feel so bad for them😢
Got caught in one today while surfing in Washington state on Straights of Juan de Fuca. No bueno. And I can confirm you cannot paddle faster than the rip current. By the time I figured it out I was 200 yards away from beach well beyond all others. Don’t panic and paddle or swim parallel to beach to get out of it. 🏄♂️🌊
man hit that front double bi real quick after he saved her
When I hear about this I think about how lucky I am, in the 90's when I was about 7 or 8 years old I would go boogie boarding in La Jolla and actually loved to find a riptide to take me out far, but I didn't know it was a dangerous thing back then, it was just like a fast way to get out far. Once I got so far I could barely see the beach, I would float around for a while out there where it was calm with my board and wait for some good waves to ride back. My parents didn't even care. Maybe they didn't know about riptides either since we were from AZ. For whatever reason though I just remember there being so many different people way out there in the ocean with me, people just chilling so far out in the calm waters, maybe they were surfing or boogie boarding too. It was really fun, just dangerous now that I think of it, and thinking of sharks now, ugh, lol.
I grew up in San Diego and I was always so scared of rip currents, even when I was little. The signs scared me. I never went into the deep water. I would just use my boogie board to ride the baby waves that were close to shore. Lol
Yeah, all the swimming to get my surfboard out to a set in Maui would've been aided by the perfect rip, but it's definitely dicey IMO unless you really know where it ends and there's experienced people around to keep you company. In very rough chop, and/or by myself, I don't want to get pulled out, especially when the 100 yard mark represents a sudden dropoff where bull sharks are known to lurk.
ETA: when I say "by myself", I ALWAYS have someone at least keeping an eye on me from shore. I hope nobody ever truly goes into the ocean completely alone.
Wish we could see her swim out of it parallel and back to shore like in the animation at the end. But very helpful anyway.
Dealt with one Boca Raton. Didn't panic. Went opposite/diagonal got out.
3:35 I THOUGHT IT WAS A SHARK!lol
thanks for nothing. what the hell? Now I'm even more confused. Thanks for this weird footage
I got caught in a rip current twice on two occasions while body surfing in San Francisco last year. I had to swim myself out, duck diving with the waves so as not to be tumbled like a washing machine. Swim diagonal, not parallel to shore- swim with a few waves, and after 2-3 minutes, you'll hit land and be able to walk right out of the water!
Wow! Seriously so helpful.
Those whirlpools at the end of the rip current are scary. You see, in nature nothing can be formed out of nothing and dissolve into nothing, so if you fill a glass with water you will never drink more water than it is in the bottle. Therefore, when the waves push the water towards the shore, it builds up and has to go back. It just can't stay above the normal water level. So it finds a nice spot to go back, and where water goes there is the whirlpool.
I got caught in a rip current a month ago on the Fort Lauderdale beach while lifegaurds were on duty just not watching. I am still terrified to this day. I am just lucky my dad was able to grab me
I used to swim in deep water and strong wave when I was kid no equiqments..but then nothings happen to me sometime I go far and deeper is hard to comeback, I never know it was called (rip current) one time I experience like this I just follow the wave to take me far after that I come back.
I got caught in a Rip tide recently but remained calm and just called Uber. Lucky they were near by.
REST IN PEACE SHAD
Hats off! Gutsy girl 👍👍
what the people saying this is dramatic don't understand is that when you've got water left and right and below you and waves smacking into your face while realizing that you're really far from where you were moments ago, full blown panic hits you smack dab in the face with no mercy. it's not that easy to 'just swim away from it' or the death toll wouldn't have been so high
amna exactly my point. You won't know where is parallel and where is that "diagonal path". By the time most people realize it is already 100 meters. That will be like 300 meters of swimming if you count all the floating, detouring and other maneuvers. Scary stuff..
Yes, it is easy to swim away!
It's just that people don't know how to and, as you said, they panic.
Once you know, it's easy and even fun to play with
@@rital312 yeah be carefull playing tho cuz sometimes you underestermate them most of the time its fine but if ur surfing point breaks on near jetties you dont wanna get smashed in the rock same with swimming
My father and I were caught in a rip current once. It was so scary!!!
it did NOT suck you hundreds of feet away from the shore as you claim. In fact it is more like less than 100 yard. Rip currents normally dissipate in about a 100 yard from shore where it is deeper so that the current does not have enough volume to carry on.
Swim on your back and make yourself laugh (when a wave isn't breaking of course!), it drops your heart rate and prevents panic. 80% of rip currents return you back to shore so if you are not a strong swimmer the best bet is to chill out and enjoy the ride, most of the time it returns you to the beach. Swimming sideways is my last resort bc that is still exhausting and still comes with risk of drowning. I learned this after nearly drowning as a kid.
People out there with her or not Ginger Zee is a bad ass for doing this.
I got pulled into a riptide in Florida once, almost went unconscious and washed up about a half mile from where I got into the water
Thanks for the video. It is easier to wrap your head around this with the animation.
They DO NOT always happen near piers and jettis. They happen on open beaches all the time!!!
I survived RIP current after a successful CPR in Karachi, Pakistan.
Now because of the PTSD, unfortunately, I can't go the sea water. I'm planning sessions with a coast guard's for systemic desensitisation.
Great work !👍
Now do a ‘how to survive a great white shark attack’ one as well.
She feels like the Avengers. Superhero. The “cool” crap people think they have to banter about nowadays. She could have just talked about the circumstances of one of her being pulled out instances etc. Or another person’s experience/story.
at oregon coast sometimes, the current flow along the shoreline was so fast (maybe 30 miles per hour) and so long, i couldnt even guess the size of this "rip current feeder area", and no visible waves there, i didnt see whirlpool there. this video was the only one that said about the size of the rip curent about 100 yards far out. but from oregon's news once i watched, "rip current feeder length to its mouth of it seemed like a mile long and not 50 yards , this kind of rip current i saw in real life reminded me a hell or ultima underworld 8 pagan's ocean, dreadful. so fast so big
Yesterday night i was out with friends celebrating birthday to a friend of mine. We stayed there all night i remember getting high with them and then go to swim in the sea. I spent almost the whole night just swimming in the sea while getting high with a break of 10 minutes after swimming for like an hour and repeat. Somewhere between 4AM and 5AM i decided to go swimming and my friend who was the birthday girl decided to join me. We went into the sea and i stated chilling like always and still touching the ground, and she liked to lay on her back and close her eyes, and thats what lead her to get caught in a rip. While i was still chilling in q safe zone, i remember her screaming my name and at first i thought she was calling for me from the shore because she was worried but then i realized that her screaming went from a deeper place in the sea. I rememver that i immediately started swimming towards her to try to get her out or at least help her but then i suddenly felt the intense water that was sucking me into the sea. We started swimming towards the shore with all of our power and i was so high i started panicking while screaming to her to keep on swimming. I was so close to give up because i was so tired and then she screamed at me that she feel the ground, and then i just started swimming as fast as i can and i felt that too. We eventually managed to survive that rip and get back to the shore but that was the last time of that night that i entered the sea.