Durban - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) says rip currents are contributing to the recent spate of drownings across the country, and urged the public to be extremely cautious around the coast.
The organisation said there have been very strong rip currents around the coast.
Those most at risk are bathers and shoreline anglers, it said.
“Rip currents can develop where there are breaking waves. Bigger waves produce stronger currents, and these ‘rivers’ of current are produced by water moving from the beach back out to sea. They happen all the time at many beaches and are the biggest danger that visitors face in the water.”
The NSRI said often rip currents move slowly enough to barely be detected.
“Given the right circumstances of waves and beach profile, they can develop into currents moving at speeds of up to 2 metres per second – faster than any of us can swim.”
The organisation said avoiding rip currents altogether is the safest strategy.
“Bathers are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming or wading in water along the beachfront. Even bathers wading in shallow water who find themselves trapped in a rip current that can form suddenly a at risk of being swept at sea.”
On Sunday afternoon, Mike Bishop, the NSRI Ballito station commander, said that the duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Thompson’s tidal pool.
“NSRI rescue swimmers, IPSS Medical Rescue, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Medi-Response rescue services responded. On arrival at the scene it was found that an adult male had entered the water to save his daughter, believed to be aged approximately 8, who may have been swept off the rocks near the tidal pool.”
Bishop said the man was able to push his daughter to safety where she was recovered by family members on the shore, however he was swept out to sea by rip currents.
“After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly he was declared deceased.
“The family were taken into the care of Medi-Response rescue services, and a counsellor.”
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said an inquest docket was being investigated.
In a separate incident, Gerrit Cloete, NSRI Port Alfred deputy station commander, said that duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at West Beach on Saturday.
A woman was swept out to sea in rip currents.
“After all efforts to resuscitate the female were exhausted, the 19-year-old woman was declared deceased.”
Charles Khumalo, lifeguard and founder of water safety organisation,Siyasindisa Academy said that trying to rescue someone else if you were not a strong swimmer was not advisable.
NSRI tips on how to spot a rip current:
- A change in the incoming pattern of waves (often the waves are not breaking in a rip channel);
- Water through a surf zone that is a different colour to the surrounding water;
- Turbulent or choppy water in the surf zone in a channel or river-like shape flowing away from the beach
- Seaweed, sand 'clouds' or debris moving out to the backline where waves are forming through the surf zone