NSW State Life Saving Manager Dean Storey talks to SBS about how to avoid hazardous rips and what beach-goers should do if they get caught in one.
A rip, or rip current, is a moving current of water and will usually start near the shoreline and flow away from the beach.
"All rips current are is just water and energy just moving back out to sea. Obviously a lot of wave energy is coming in and that just needs to escape back out to sea and dissipate", says Mr Storey.
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Recently, life savers have been rescuing a growing number of people from rips due to a lack of knowledge and beach safety.
"We do have a drowning problem in NSW on our beaches, 46 people drowned last season".
Mr Storey tells SBS while rip currents are very difficult to identify, if you ever get caught in one you should;
• Stay calm, don't panic
• Don't swim against the current
• Signal for help
• If you can, swim parallel to the beach
For more information visit www.beachsafe.org.au or www.ripcurrents.com.au
