Swimmers warned about rip currents after rescues

10 hours ago

Lisa Young

BBC News, Cornwall

The RNLI said lifeguards rescued 10 swimmers from rip currents at Perranporth beach on Saturday

Sam Chamberlain/RNLI An aerial photo of Perranporth beach on a blue sky day. The waves are laced with white surf and patches of wet sand can be seen between sections of the waves. There are lifeguard cars parked on the beach. There are walkers along it and some people are swimming, surfing and paddling in the waves. The beach is lined with grass-topped sand dunes. — The RNLI said lifeguards rescued 10 swimmers from rip currents at Perranporth beach on Saturday

Lifeguards have warned beachgoers about the danger of rip currents after they rescued 10 swimmers from a sudden flash one at a Cornish beach.

The RNLI said the swimmers had been dragged out of their depth by flash rips at Perranporth beach on Saturday.

A flash rip is a fast-forming, powerful current which can appear suddenly, even in seemingly calm conditions.

The RNLI advised people to always swim between the yellow and red flags on a lifeguarded beach and, if caught by a rip current, to float on their back with their ears under the water.

Joel Ninnes advised confident swimmers to swim parallel to the beach to exit a rip current

RNLI An aerial photo of a beach on a sunny day. There is a rock surrounded by dry sand which leads to wet sand and waves. The sea is blue and the waves are lined with white but there is a section where the waves do not have the white water. This indicates a rip current. — Joel Ninnes advised confident swimmers to swim parallel to the beach to exit a rip current

Joel Ninnes, water safety delivery support for the RNLI, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Rip currents can pop up at any state of the tide and people can get caught out fairly easily."

He said there had been several large incidents involving rip currents on Cornish beaches already this year at Perranporth and Trebarwith Strand.

Although lifeguards kept a watch for the rips, he said they could appear at any time due to the beach, size of swell and point in the tide.

"We've seen rip currents get up to 10, 11, 12 knots," he said. "They are incredibly strong and some can take you far out of the area."

If a confident swimmer became caught in a rip, Mr Ninnes said they should swim parallel to the shore to swim sideways out of the current towards waves which would help bring them in.

He advised people who were not strong swimmers that were caught in a rip to remember the RNLI's "float to live" message.

He said: "Relax, try and catch your breath then roll on to your back and do the starfish shape.

"Get your ears below the water line and move your arms and legs if you need to.

"If you can't get out of the rip current, raise your arm in the air and look for a lifeguard and let them know."

He said surfers and bodyboarders should hold on to their board and use it to help keep them afloat.

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Mr Ninnes advised swimmers to choose a lifeguarded beach and stay between the yellow and red flags

A lifeguard in a wetsuit with a rash vest over it is turning a metal winch which is lowering a jetski off its trailer. His face is contorted with effort. He is on a beach with the sea behind him on a sunny day. There is a RNLI-branded pick-up truck behind him which is loaded with paddleboards. A man with a towel around his waist and wearing a hoodie is stood in the open passenger door way. — Mr Ninnes advised swimmers to choose a lifeguarded beach and stay between the yellow and red flags

The best advice, Mr Ninnes said, was to look for rip currents before entering the water.

He said: "Rip current have a different texture on top of the water - choppy or churning - and a darker deeper shade of blue.

"Look for where the waves aren't breaking, look for the texture - smoothness on the water can highlight the rip current and look for that deeper, darker colour."

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