Problem is most people that think they can swim can barely swim, was doing a family swim with my lad at the pool he trains at (he's made it into the swimming club) about half a dozen or so young lads messing around and got thrown out in the end, some of them telling the life guard / attendant they could swim wouldn't last 30 seconds in open water let alone the sea with currents and rip tides, I was a reasonable swimmer as a young lad at school, did my bronze award and 1500m but I'm not a patch on my 9yr old boy, he'd be saving me

Most people just don't understand the dangers of the sea here add that to not being able to swim 100m in one hit and it's a recipe for disaster.

 

Don't swim against the current...

 

In the context of this very unfortunate incident there's an expert advice I noted on Facebook. It suggests that the blind spots on the sand bank that look most calm are the ones to watch. Apparently the rip tide attacks them and retreats with whatever it can gulp, in a shot.

 

Might been a bit of 'quicksand'

 

That's also a possibility, Duncan. You and Hodgy can provide many notable possibilities as you both know the sea much more than many of us know, here.

 

I got caught in a rip tide in mexico took me right out and i'm a good swimmer nothing i could do,worst thing is to panic so i just swam on my back and when i go back in i was four hotels away from where i started.Being brought up by the sea i know to respect it as it can be a evil bitch when things go all pete tong.