Rip current related drowning deaths and rescues in Australia 2004–2011

Abstract

Rip currents are a common hazard to beachgoers found on many beaches around the world, but it has proven difficult to accurately quantify the actual number of rip current related drowning deaths in many regions and countries. Consequently, reported estimates of rip current drowning can fluctuate considerably and are often based on anecdotal evidence. This study aims to quantify the incidence of rip current related drowning deaths and rescues in Australia from 2004 to 2011. A retrospective search was undertaken for fatal and non-fatal rip-related drowning incidents from Australia's National Coronial Information System (NCIS), Surf Life Saving Australia's (SLSA, 2005–2011) SurfGuard Incident Report Database (IRD), and Media Monitors for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2011. In this time, rip currents were recorded as a factor in 142 fatalities of a total of 613 coastal drowning deaths (23.2%), an average of 21 per year. Rip currents were related to 44% of all beach-related drowning deaths and were involved in 57.4% of reported major rescues in Australian locations where rips occur. A comparison with international operational statistics over the same time period describes rip-related rescues as 53.7% of the total rescues in the US, 57.9% in the UK and 49.4% in New Zealand. The range 49–58% is much lower than 80–89% traditionally cited. The results reported are likely to underestimate the size of the rip current hazard, because we are limited by the completeness of data on rip-related events; however this is the most comprehensive estimate to date. Beach safety practitioners need improved data collection and standardized definitions across organisations. The collection of drowning data using consistent categories and the routine collection of rip current information will allow for more accurate global comparisons

Brief Communication: A new perspective on the Australian rip current hazard

“…We compare the best available data of annual rip current fatalities (n = 21 yr −1 ; Brighton et al, 2013) in relation to the long-term average of human fatalities caused by the following natural hazards: (1) tropical cyclones; (2) bushfires; (3) floods; and (4) shark attacks. The first three hazards were chosen as they are the most commonly occurring types in Australia (Middelmann, 2007) and are all hydrometeorological by classification.…”

“…However, these numbers are largely speculative assumptions based on anecdotal information. A recent study by Surf Life Saving Australia, Australia's largest beach safety organisation, using Australia's National Coronial Information System (NCIS) and Media Monitors for the period 1 July 2004 to 20 June 2011 has revealed that the average annual number of confirmed rip current fatalities during this period is 21 yr −1 (Brighton et al, 2013). However, they acknowledged that this number is very likely to be an underestimate as fatalities are only recorded as being rip current related when there is a witness to the event who describes the individual being caught in a rip current.…”

Rip current evidence by hydrodynamic simulations, bathymetric surveys and UAV observation

“…These strong offshore directed currents are the cause of the majority of fatalities within the beach environment (Drozdzewski et al, 2012;Brander et al, 2013;Brighton et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2012). Therefore, many attempts have been made to relate the rip current morphology to the local wave climate, shoreline orientation, sediment size and tidal conditions.…”

Wave breaking patterns control rip current flow regimes and surfzone retention

“…Consequently, rips present a global problem for recreational beach use; in the U.K., 68 % of incidents on beaches patrolled by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are attributed to rips (Scott et al, 2008). In Australia, rips were a factor in 44 % of recorded beach drownings over a seven-year period (Brighton et al, 2013). Recent research has focussed on assessing the effectiveness of various escape strategies for people caught in rips (Miloshis and Stephenson, 2011;McCarroll et al, 2014aMcCarroll et al, , 2015Castelle et al, 2015;Van Leeuwen et al, 2015).…”