Last weekend, whilst swimming in what looked like a protected natural rock pool, I was pulled into a dangerous rip that was dumping onto a reef. My mind cleared as I slowed down and I thought: 'So this is it. This is how people drown.'
Caught in a riptide, I was moments from drowning in a 'calm bay' where too many others have died. Where were the warnings?Last weekend, whilst swimming in what looked like a protected natural rock pool at Spoon Bay on the NSW Central Coast , I was pulled into a dangerous rip that was flowing onto a reef.
We both clocked, at that precise moment, that we were in grave danger. What we did not know is that there have been many deaths by drowning in that exact spot, one that is advertised on a Central Coast tourism site as a "calm bay", "ideal for swimming" and "relaxing" walks. About as calming as swimming with great white sharks, frankly.
While the reef appear to provide a protective barrier from the ocean, three prominent permanent rips take the water back out to sea and have caused many fatalities ... The naturally formed rock pool at the northern end of the beach is very dangerous. As large waves wash across the reef into the pool the water suddenly drains out into deep water. The majority of fatalities in recent years have occurred in this spot.
Brander also thinks all coastal accommodation should have basic beach safety information, as they do in many places in the US — and also, he says, on the Gold Coast: "In general, despite what a big issue beach safety is, I'm not convinced we do a good job at educating the public about it and rips."that about 3.7 million Australians have been caught in a rip current, with a quarter needing to be rescued or assisted to safety.
Then there was Dad, bobbing in the swell. I saw a surfer flying down the sand towards us, his wetsuit half on, carrying a yellow rescue tube which had only been installed just last month — next to the path to the car park with a string of others along local unpatrolled beaches. He made his way to the rocks and watched as my father, arms slowly stroking, slapping the surface, tried to make his way back to the beach then was pushed back by the roiling current.
Drowning Rip Surf Life Saving Beach Safety Central Coast Reef Julia Baird Rob Brander Rescue Ocean Swimming
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