Rip currents are strong, narrow, and often channelised currents of water that initiate close to the shoreline of ocean beaches and flow offshore through the surf zone and varying distances beyond. They are common features on Australian beaches with an estimated 17,000 rips occurring on any given day around the coast. While it is therefore not surprising that rip currents are a significant contributor to coastal drowning deaths, many people would be surprised to know that in a typical year, rip currents account for more deaths in Australia than sharks, floods and cyclones combined.
