Fires, Floods Or Sharks? Ocean Rip Currents Are More Dangerous Than All Of Them Combined
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - 23:40
in Earth & Climate
Rip currents claim more lives in Australia on average each year than bushfires, floods, cyclones and sharks combined - but don't get too nervous, rip currents only cause about 21 confirmed human fatalities per year. Rip currents are strong, narrow seaward-flowing currents that can easily carry unsuspecting swimmers significant distances offshore, leading to exhaustion, panic and often drowning. An analysis of data from Australia's National Coronial Information System shows there was an average 21 confirmed deaths involving rips per year during the period 2004 to 2011. read more