Warning to beware strong rip currents when swimming

A PRIMARY school teacher from Plymouth has issued a stern warning about swimming safety after she witnessed a man almost drown in front of her at a busy beach.

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Molly and her friends visited Bovisand Beach near Plymouth on Tuesday, planning to enjoy a dip in the sea.

However, realising it was quite a windy day, she said the group quickly decided just to paddle their feet, or maybe venture in up to their waists.

Unfortunately, other beach-goers were not quite so cautious, and Molly described seeing a strong rip current from their vantage point on the shore, which multiple swimmers then got stuck in.

The term 'rip current' describes a powerful, localised rush of water that moves directly away from the shoreline by cutting through lines of breaking waves, like a river flowing out to sea. A rip current often looks calm or has fewer waves breaking, tricking people into thinking it's safe.

Molly watched from the shore as a woman and her grandson paddled out towards the strong current before getting caught in it.

She said: "The woman tried to stay calm for the child, and she then called for help to her daughter on the shore. I swam out and pulled them out of the rip."