Rip Currents: What Are They and Why Are They so Deadly?
‘I felt overwhelmed, overwhelmed by the fact that I was powerless.’ - Anonymous rip current survivor.
Words by Max Campbell
Rip currents are the largest cause of RNLI rescues in the UK. The fact that they pose such a danger is a result of both their overwhelming power, and the general public's limited knowledge of what a rip current actually is, as well as what it looks like. Drownings, as a result of rip currents, often reach double digits during the summer season in Cornwall. In an attempt to spread awareness of these un-relenting currents, we’ve collected some information on what they are, and how they can be avoided.
What is a Rip Current?
Rip currents are a result of breaking waves pushing water towards the shoreline. With the constant forcing of crumbling surf, there is a ‘pile up’ of water in the shallows. The rip current is a result of the water then ‘seeking its own level’, where it finds a deeper channel, and flows back out to sea through the surf zone.
The rip current is fed by weaker currents that run parallel to the shore called feeders. Where the feeder currents converge, the rip begins to flow out to sea. The flow speed can often be rapid, greatly exceeding the speed of even the strongest swimmers.
What Does a Rip Current Look Like?
Once you understand what a rip current is, and how they work, they are often easy to identify. The biggest give away is the discolouration of water. In a rip, there will often be a noticeable amount of suspended sand and foam, allowing the current to stand out from the water around it. Breaking waves are often found either side of a rip, but rarely inside it. Another big indicator is an area with a lack of breaking waves, although there are still waves breaking either side.
It is often possible to identify a rip by the texture of the water. Because of the river like flow, there will often be an un-settled chop on the surface of the current, distinguishing it from the smoother water around it.
A rip current can be a permanent feature on some beaches, caused by a harbour wall, or an outcrop of rocks. These permanent rips will always be found in the same location, and always intensify as the waves get bigger. A large succession of bigger waves can also cause a more fleeting flash rip, which are temporary and unexpected, and can last only several minutes. These flash rips are often more deadly, as they can occur suddenly without warning.
A rip current is a fast flowing channel of water moving away from the shore, visible here on the far right hand side of the beach.
How Can I Avoid Rip Currents?
Wild swimming is an activity that prefers calm water. There’s nothing quite like perfecting your front crawl in glassy conditions, or leisurely breast stroking when it’s as calm as a mill pond. The best way to avoid rip currents, is to swim at sheltered locations with no breaking waves. These can be river locations, or beaches that are sheltered from prevailing winds and swells.
Even exposed spots have small days, and these are the days when wild swimming can be enjoyed with the smallest risk of rip currents. If you’re planning on swimming at a beach that's exposed to swell, we recommend only entering the water if the surf is smaller than waist high. When the surf is small, the risk of sudden flash rips is at a minimum. You can find more information on safety here and on the RNLI website.
RNLI Beach lifeguards will identify any rip currents, and then mark the safest swimming zone using two red and yellow flags. It’s wise, especially if you’re building confidence in sea swimming, to visit lifeguarded beaches between 10am and 6pm and swim between the red and yellow flags. The lifeguards will also be happy to notify you on the location of any rips, as well as other local dangers.
Open water swimming classes can also help with confidence building, allowing you to perfect your technique in a safe environment.
Discolouration of the water with sand and foam will identify a rip current.
What Should You do if You Get Caught in a Rip Current?
If you find yourself being pulled away from the shoreline, the key to finding your way out of the current is by swimming perpendicular to the direction of flow, most often parallel to the shoreline. This may seem counterintuitive, but by swimming into the current, you will only tire yourself out. Don’t fight the current, focus on escaping it. If you’re unsure of the direction of flow, aim for the nearest white water.
By swimming perpendicular to the rip current, you take yourself out of the channel where the flow is strongest, and back into the surf zone. Once into the surf zone, it should be much easier to swim back to the shoreline, allowing the waves to work in your favour.
Whilst being caught in a rip can be a frightening experience, it is crucial to not panic. If you find yourself panicking, lie on your back and focus on taking deep controlled breaths. If you feel like you are struggling, call for help and raise your arm.
Here, the rip current is visible on the far left hand side of the beach.
Staying Safe
The too frequent casualties of rip currents remind us that they are a very present threat. It’s important that an understanding of what they are, what they look like and how they can be avoided is spread throughout the community of bathers and sea swimmers in Cornwall. Our key pieces of advice, in order to avoid rip currents are:
Study the water carefully before entering. If in doubt, don’t go out;
Never swim alone;
Seek out sheltered beaches, avoid surf, especially when the waves are bigger than waist high;
Visit lifeguarded beaches, and swim between the red and yellow flags;
Build confidence in the water with open water swimming classes;
If stuck in a rip current, don’t fight it. Swim perpendicular to the direction of flow (or the nearest white water) to remove yourself from the flow.
Don’t panic. If you begin to, lie on your back and focus on taking deep breaths.
