Beachgoers urged to extra cautious of rip currents
These currents are powerful enough to flow away from the shore, clocking nearly three meters per second. This is faster than an Olympic swimmer.
National Sea Rescue Institute. Picture: @NSRI/X.
CAPE TOWN - Summer fun is in full swing this festive season. But let's not forget that safety always comes first.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is appealing to beachgoers to be extra cautious of rip currents.
READ: Don't swim while drunk, avoid rip currents: NSRI warning to beachgoers
These currents are powerful enough to flow away from the shore, clocking nearly three meters per second. This is faster than an Olympic swimmer.
The NSRI's Andrew Ingram has this advice for bathers.
"If you are caught in a rip current remember to stay calm, do not panic, conserve energy by floating and swimming out of the current instead of swimming directly back to land swim sideways to escape the current grip, signal for help, raise your arms and shout for assistance," said Ingram.
Ingram said beachgoers must watch out at the beach these holidays.
"Rips are the most significant dangers to our beach victors face. They do not pull people under the water but can quickly drag them away from the beach, panic often leads swimmers to swim against the current, which can lead to exhaustion and drowning," Ingram added.