Current dangers

Rip current dangers ignored

Anton McNulty

LIFEGUARDS on two of the most popular beaches in Mayo fear that an ‘accident is waiting to happen’ if surfers and swimmers fail to heed their warnings about surfing in hazardous conditions.
Carrowniskey beach in Louisburgh and Keel beach on Achill Island are two of the county’s most popular beaches with surfers – but they are also prone to dangerous rip currents. While a rip current is used by surfers to save the effort of having to paddle out, they can be extremely dangerous and drags swimmers away from the beach.
Mr Michael Gavin of Mayo County Council, who oversees the lifeguards on Mayo beaches, told The Mayo News that lifeguards operating on Keel and Carrowniskey are becoming worried about the number of surfers using the beaches in rough weather, despite the red flag being flown signifying hazardous conditions.
“We have signs up on the beaches saying there are rip currents beyond a certain point and not to go past. However, people just do what they want to do, but in bad weather the waves are coming in very fast and it is difficult for lifeguards to see everyone. Even when the red flags are up, people still go into the water and when the lifeguards signal for them to come out they just ignore them. It is a bravado type of thing but the lifeguards are worried that they are putting their lives at risk.
“It is a daily risk but, touch wood, we have never had fatalities while the lifeguards are on duty. But they are very concerned that people are not heeding them or the signs and warning flags,” he said.
Up to 80 per cent of all rescues by lifeguards on Mayo beaches are due to rip currents and this year there has been a significant increase in the number of rescues. Last Tuesday, three surfers on Carrowniskey beach were rescued after getting caught in a rip current and during the last bank holiday weekend three surfers were also rescued on Keel beach. On the same weekend, the emergency services were called when a surf board was washed up on the beach and lifeguards believed they saw somebody struggling in the water. An extensive search of the bay did not find anybody, but on the day the sea conditions were very hazardous and, despite the red flag being flown, there was a large number of surfers in the sea.
“Surfers go out on the water and want excitement and a challenge but if they continue to go on the water when conditions are rough there is an accident waiting to happen,” he warned.


How rips form

When waves break
1. water is pushed up the slope of the shore. Gravity pulls this water back toward the sea. Sandbars, piers etc can make it flow along the shore
2. converging at a point
3. and then in a narrow, river-like current moving away from shore. This eventually slows and disperses
4.Rip currents can be 15 to 50 metres or more wide. They can flow to a point just past the breaking surf (the surfline) or hundreds of yards offshore. Some 80 per cent of rescues by lifeguards at America’s surf beaches are due to persons being caught in rip currents.

Escaping from a rip

Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.

Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline.

When out of the current, swim towards shore.

If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.

If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself:  face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.