Hutch

If you're new to beach life (and most British expats are), then it's incredibly important that you understand the danger of rips. There's a rip on Bondi beach that's called Backpackers Express because so many tourists, who have no understanding of rip currents, get stuck in it and need rescuing.

The excellent video below will give you an idea of what to look out for. If you don't understand about rips, ask the surf lifesavers at the beach you're at or - if it's unpatrolled - ask the surfers, they'll definitely know because they use the rips to get out through the breakwater. Members of this forum or their family members have died in rips, so please take a couple of minutes to watch it and be safe on the beach this summer.

marco121068

Some very useful info there. Well worth keeping this post up near the top.

benlast

That is excellent, Hutch; thanks.

There are also some useful pictures of rips on this page: http://www.loving-long-island.com/rip-currents.html, and in this PDF, giving more examples to help you recognise rips.

Cheers
b

nickyjohnt

Very helpfull, thanks Hutch. Have heard of rips but didnt really know how to spot one. Will make sure my daughter watches the video !

Nicky

kiwinow

That's great advice. I got caught in a rip once at Piha Beach in Auckland, NZ. Suddenly, I couldn't touch the bottom and could feel myself being pulled further out and fast. I raised my hand, as every kiwi kid is taught, and the people I was with raised their hands and waved back from the safety of the surf.

Fortunately, I did the right thing and swam towards the white water at the side. I was still way out of my depth but managed to get in with the surf once out of the rip. When I told my friends what had happened they didn't believe me, which just goes to show that even people raised in these conditions don't always know the dangers. The surf lifesavers never came, but possibly watched through binoculars and saw me get out of trouble.

My husband rescued an elderly woman from a rip once, but her husband was drowned and this makes us always aware. We teach our kids to stand and assess the waves constantly.

medwaymark

Thanks Hutch

minibelle

Thanks Hutch

Just made the family sit down and watch it.

minibelle

nightnurse2

Thanks Hutch - wasn't really sure what to look out for, so it's helped.

Made my kids watch it aswell, you never know it may save them one day

Dorothy

Thanks, Hutch. The first thing we did when we got here to WA was take our kids for surf lessons so they could learn from someone very experienced with the ocean.

mindblower

QUOTE]


Most educational- thanks.

Dave

Dougie

Dougie

asprilla

good post...

Hutch

Yea - they're scarey things. I pulled a kid out of a flash rip last week when I was on patrol. I happened to be splashing about in the water when I saw him get flushed backwards off the sandbar. As long as you keep your head, you're usually alright.

asher

Is there anything like that with subtitles fr the deaf?

Red_V_Roger

Thanks for that - he's a 'surf scientist' where can I get a job like that - its it on the MODL?