The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has made an urgent plea to all beachgoers to be extremely cautious over the next week. This is as the first full moon of the New Year will result in a spring tide and stronger than normal rip currents.
Nine people have drowned across the country since the start of the festive season – five of them in the Western Cape.
The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon says rip-currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water which can occur near beaches with breaking waves.
“They form at different places constantly throughout the day and that river of water if you find yourself caught in that river of water you’re going to be swept out to sea faster than you can swim back to shore. They can reach up to 5 miles per hour. So, it’s extremely dangerous. It’s definitely the greatest cause of drowning around the coastline in South Africa.”
