29 Dec 2014

PICS: SA spring tide causes beach havoc

Cape Town - Lifesaving SA warned beachgoers to exercise caution when swimming in the sea as a strong Spring Tide brought with it the dangers of rip currents across SA's coastal areas.

One person drowned on boxing day and the body was later recovered after a search and rescue mission along Cape Town's Strand beach, the City of Cape Town said.

Caused by extreme high and low tides, rip tides are a result of the bigger than normal change between tides as a larger volume of water drains between high and low tides. see its affects shared across social media.

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^{Also see: Bad weather and power outages hit Jeffreys Bay}

The beautiful #SeaPoint @lovecapetown @CapeTownRedBus pic.twitter.com/VDYjhqxvKn
— SONJA DELPORT (@EDELWEISS_DELP) December 27, 2014

#CapeTown #cape #stormwatch at #smitswinkel bay on boxing day. We saved the boat pic.twitter.com/LUjWh5AF8m
— Gale McAll (@galemcall) December 28, 2014

Angry sea in Kalk Bay @cityofcapetown #cityofcapetown @amazingcapetown #springtide
A photo posted by Catherine (@cathimole) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:52pm PST

#Mosselbay - Images:About 200 seal pups washed up on beaches in the Mossel Bay area. #roughsea #springtide #surfsurge pic.twitter.com/gH0wzKFolE
— SA Weather Reports (@SAWXREP) December 27, 2014

Shark washed up on the beach #springtide
A photo posted by Hein Kaiser (@heinkaiser) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:17am PST

All the kelp got washed up onto the beach, water was too rough to swim. #sea #Kleinmond #springtide #beach #kelpforests
A photo posted by Craig Fyfer (@craigy88_fyfs) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:47pm PST

#SpringTide #PlettenbergBay pic.twitter.com/jLNtt7Ny8I
— Michelle (@MichelleSeymore) December 26, 2014

A bit of a splash #springtide #hermanus pic.twitter.com/PcozF2qxox
— Masafrica (@masafricacorn) December 26, 2014

In order to stay safe, beachgoers are being asked to adhere to the following safety tips:

- Swim only where there are lifeguards and where signs indicate that it is safe to do so

- If you see someone else in trouble in the sea, alert the lifeguards or find help. Do not put your own life in danger as well

- Don’t drink alcohol before swimming or driving motor boats. The use of alcohol dulls the senses, slows the reactions and can lead to irresponsible behavior.

- Don’t dive from tidal pool walls – this can result in spinal injuries

- Do not take small or unstable boats out far from the shore in choppy water or bad weather

- If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and relax. Swim slowly and conservatively parallel to the shoreline or relax and let it carry you out past the breakers until it slacks.

- Emergency calls can be directed to the City’s 107 emergency number. Dial 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.

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