Dangerous Rip Currents During Summer Storm

Dangerous rip currents are putting lifeguards and rescue swimmers on high alert. In just the past two days there has been hundreds of rescues along our coast.

“There were more than 400 rescues throughout Southern California between San Diego and Santa Barbara, and a lot of them were involving rip currents,” said Joe Garces with the Oxnard Fire Department.

The weather has a large part to do with the increase in water rescues. It is hot, humid, the surf is larger and the National Weather Service is reporting a moderate risk of rip currents on all Southern California beaches. Lifeguards and rescue swimmers are referring to this dangerous weather combination as the “perfect storm.”

Five of Tuesday’s rescues took place at Oxnard Shores beach in Oxnard when a group of swimmers all at once got caught in a rip current.

“A rip current is almost like a river in the sea and it captures anything in its path; debris, sand and swimmers, and it pulls them away from shore out to sea,” said Oxnard Firefighter and Rescue Swimmer Dan Nahmias.

As these swimmers battled with the ocean, Oxnard firefighters rushed from their fire station to the beach to help them.

“Rescue swimmers from Oxnard Fire Department went out 500 yards or more and got to the five people and they got them in,” said Oxnard photographer Colleen Burke who photographed the rescue.

In this case everyone was OK. If you find yourself caught in a rip current here is the advice rescue swimmer Nahimas gives, “Number 1, first and foremost stay calm and don’t panic. There is nothing about a rip current that is going to pull you underwater. To get out of the rip current you want to swim at a 45 degree angle towards shore.”

The stretch of beach off Mandalay Beach Road and Fifth Street is one of the most popular beaches in Oxnard, but it is also one of the most dangerous. This is because it is known to produce rip currents and there are no lifeguards on duty.

“The past 13 fatalities that have occurred in the last 13 years, one per a summer, one per a year, have occurred in this stretch of beach which does not have lifeguards. So we do not recommend people to swim there,” said Garces.

“It is a great time to come to the beach. The weather is perfect for it, come out and enjoy yourselves with your family, but make sure you are at a beach that is protected by lifeguards, and if you have any questions go up and talk to a lifeguard. They are more than happy to explain to you where the dangers are and how best to keep you and your families safe,” said Nahmias.

This weather pattern with rip currents are expected to last through Friday or Saturday.