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BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Swimmers warned about rip currents after rescues at Perranporth
Lifeguards have warned beachgoers about the danger of rip currents after they rescued 10 swimmers from a sudden flash one at a Cornish RNLI said the swimmers had been dragged out of their depth by flash rips at Perranporth beach on Saturday.A flash rip is a fast-forming, powerful current which can appear suddenly, even in seemingly calm RNLI advised people to always swim between the yellow and red flags on a lifeguarded beach and, if caught by a rip current, to float on their back with their ears under the water. Joel Ninnes, water safety delivery support for the RNLI, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Rip currents can pop up at any state of the tide and people can get caught out fairly easily."He said there had been several large incidents involving rip currents on Cornish beaches already this year at Perranporth and Trebarwith lifeguards kept a watch for the rips, he said they could appear at any time due to the beach, size of swell and point in the tide."We've seen rip currents get up to 10, 11, 12 knots," he said. "They are incredibly strong and some can take you far out of the area."If a confident swimmer became caught in a rip, Mr Ninnes said they should swim parallel to the shore to swim sideways out of the current towards waves which would help bring them advised people who were not strong swimmers that were caught in a rip to remember the RNLI's "float to live" said: "Relax, try and catch your breath then roll on to your back and do the starfish shape."Get your ears below the water line and move your arms and legs if you need to."If you can't get out of the rip current, raise your arm in the air and look for a lifeguard and let them know."He said surfers and bodyboarders should hold on to their board and use it to help keep them afloat. The best advice, Mr Ninnes said, was to look for rip currents before entering the said: "Rip current have a different texture on top of the water - choppy or churning - and a darker deeper shade of blue."Look for where the waves aren't breaking, look for the texture - smoothness on the water can highlight the rip current and look for that deeper, darker colour."
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
'Float to live' advice from Jersey RNLI ahead of summer season
Families are being encouraged to talk about staying safe in the water as part of this year's drowning prevention week in year's theme focuses on starting conversations around water safety at home with parents, carers and children ahead of the summer Tredant from the RNLI in Jersey said crews had already gone out on a few rescues this said swimmers should follow the "float to live" advice if they did get into difficulties. "We're advising people to tilt their head back and relax. Gently move your hands and legs. If your legs sink, that's ok, everybody's body floats differently," he suggested practising the technique when safe to do will be at El Tico and Watersplash in St Ouen's Bay, Plémont, Grève de Lecq and St Brelade's Bay daily from 10:00 BST to 18:00 this Tredant also advised people to stick to beaches with lifeguards and for parents to tell their children to swim between the red and yellow flags, which mark safe places to water temperature is still only 15C, he warned, and swimmers should acclimatise gently, rather than running or diving in straight away. Mr Tredant said if swimmers did get caught in a rip "don't try to swim against it, or you'll get exhausted".He said they should put their feet down if possible and wade in, or swim parallel to the shore to avoid getting caught. People should also raise their hand in the air and shout out to alert the lifeguards.
