Man drowns at Witsand

[schumi]

Cape Town - A man drowned after being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming at The Anchorage Beach, Witsand on Saturday, the NSRI confirmed.

WItsand station commander Theo Erasmus said its duty crew was activated at 16:00 to assist police and emergency services; rescue swimmers were deployed to search for the 33-year-old local man.

“During a search the body of the man was located and recovered from shallow surf and CPR efforts commenced. After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared deceased by the doctor,” Erasmus said.

An inquest docket has been opened.

In a separate incident, the search for a teenager who went missing in the surf at Kleinkrantz on Saturday afternoon continues.

NSRI Wilderness station commander Robert van Helsdingen said its duty crew responded at 16:30 along with police and emergency services after the 17-year-old went missing while swimming.

He too is believed to have been swept out to sea by rip-currents.

“It appears that the teenager, from George, was at the beach with his sister when rip-currents swept him out to sea while he was swimming. A bystander went into the surf to try to assist but according to reports he was not able to reach the teenager who had then disappeared under water,” he said.

“Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search no sign of the teenager has been found and a police dive unit will continue with an ongoing search operation.”

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/man-drowns-at-witsand-20161203

 

[Solarion]

Never swim against a rip current. If you are pulled out then don't fight it just float with it. It will eventually take you back to the shore. True story.

 

[craiglotter]

True, but the problem is that if you don't know what you're caught in, you're going to struggle against it.

 

[Draganchor]

Never swim against a rip current. If you are pulled out then don't fight it just float with it. It will eventually take you back to the shore. True story.

Incorrect, "try" swim across it (diagonal to the shore) to get out of it. It will never bring you back to shore.

Try the rips in Koel bay to find out if it takes you back to shore, or Spooks in Victoria, or Straddy Island on the gold coast or?
Sorry, they are never bring you back to shore.

First rule, spend 10 minutes observing the ocean before you get in, you might notice a lot of water movement, use it or avoid it.

then have fun.

 

[Beachless]

Incorrect, "try" swim across it (diagonal to the shore) to get out of it. It will never bring you back to shore.

Try the rips in Koel bay to find out if it takes you back to shore, or Spooks in Victoria, or Straddy Island on the gold coast or?
Sorry, they are never bring you back to shore.

First rule, spend 10 minutes observing the ocean before you get in, you might notice a lot of water movement, use it or avoid it.

then have fun.

I would'nt say never but it may be a very long trip

I really dont know why this advice is so common its much better to just get out of the current first and then swim back to shore as you suggested.

 

[Sneeky]

Incorrect, "try" swim across it (diagonal to the shore) to get out of it. It will never bring you back to shore. .

If in trouble stop before you exhaust yourself.
Look to land and get a reference point and figure out which way you are drifting while being taken out to sea by the rip.
Once that is established swim diagonally in the direction with the drift and the rip current.
In short order you should free yourself from the rip taking you out. Then you can make your way back using the drift to assist.

Main thing, do not panic!