As far as I understand, rip currents rapidly pull someone out to sea only. If someone finds themselves in one, the solutions are to either (a) swim parallel to the coast to get out of the rip current, then swim back to shore, or (b) stay calm, float, and wave for help. Regardless, nothing is forcing someone underwater. Are people that die in rip currents not good swimmers/floaters or panicking?
Growing up in Florida, I’ve known how to swim practically my whole life, which is pretty common here among natives. Are all these people drowning in rip currents this year visitors or transplants from other states like the the four unfortunate men in this article?
There are still waves. Imagine if the sea isn’t calm. People already can’t stay alive forever in the water. This might not be a “fresh” capable person after a long day of sun and swimming. Add the panic of rapidly being sucked out to open water. Even the strongest swimmers could succumb in certain conditions. Even if you get out how long can most people tred water and fight waves for?
I’m not trying to victim blame at all, so I’m certain there’s something I’m not understanding. Seriously, a person can easily float in sea water for 30 mins no problem. My grandma would do it everytime we went to the beach. Fill your lungs up, lay back, slowly paddle your feet, and chill. It would be different with major waves, but the panhandle usually has pretty calm waters.
I live up here. Water’s as flat as it gets once past the tiny breakers. I’m certain these are cases of people panicking and trying to swim back to shore.
No idea how to educate visitors. LOL, I’m sure municipalities don’t want giant billboards with a death tally, but that would get attention.
It depends alot on body fat content. Fat floats. My BIL is very slim and muscular and he sinks like a rock.
Not in salt water.
Sea water is about 3 to 3.5% denser than fresh. So you are right you float better in normal sea water but not by much. So he still sinks. Although, the dead sea which 9.6 times as salty at sea water gets to 24% heavier.
Fighting is exactly why they die. There’s about no one that is strong enough to swim back.
I’m guessing panicking. And as the article says, these are tourists.
