Rip currents, or ‘rips,’ are fast-flowing channels of water since they represent fast streamways through narrow channels that push water from shorelines into the surf zone beyond breaking waves. Rip currents function as the world’s main cause of beach-related deaths and pose a serious risk to swimmers, particularly at unguarded beaches.
Australia records over 120 coastal drowning deaths each year, with rips causing about 20% of those fatalities. They are the most dangerous coastal hazard in the country, exceeding the number of deaths caused by floods, cyclones, or shark attacks. Research shows that an average of 17,000 rip currents will exist throughout Australia’s 12,000 km coastline every day.
Researchers have extensively studied rip-related incidents to determine their causes and consequences. Research studies focus on analyzing risk groups to understand public perceptions of rip danger and evaluate both behavioral and psychological effects of surviving rip encounters. The majority of rip-related fatalities occur on beaches without lifeguards, where swimmers are caught in the currents, or bystanders attempt rescue operations. The evaluation of these associated risk factors needs more extensive research to develop effective public safety strategies and policy recommendations.
Recent research has reviewed the epidemiological patterns of rip current drownings that occurred from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2023 on Australian coastlines. The research study aims to address previous data gaps through demographic pattern analysis and risk calculation against population exposure, together with a survival forecast based on escape methodology.
Researchers conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis using data from Surf Life Saving Australia’s National Coastal Fatality Database, the National Coronial Information System, and media reports. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provided population statistics, while exposure data related to beach visitors and individuals trapped in rips were obtained from the National Coastal Safety Survey (NCSS) between 2014 and 2023.
The analysis included only unintentional drowning incidents directly linked to rip currents. The study excluded drowning incidents that presented confusion or originated from medical conditions and those occurring in different water currents.
During the 19-year time frame, there were 407 rip-related drowning deaths, averaging 21 deaths yearly. The population that experienced rip-related drowning consisted mostly of male victims (84.8%) at their peak during the age bracket of 20–34 years. The cases spread across regional and remote areas, while most incidents (58%) occurred beyond a 1 km distance from lifesaving stations. The evidence revealed that drowning victims remained present with other individuals at the time of the drowning in 80% of the cases.
The study period showed no significant changes in overall rip drowning rates between different time periods. The incidence of male fatalities showed a statistically significant lower trend throughout the examined time period.
The analysis revealed key differences between population-based statistics and exposure-based data. The population-based drowning rate from rips reached 0.09 per 100,000 Australians aged 16 and up; however, this number rose to 0.11 per 100,000 after considering the number of beachgoers. The analysis of exposure found that males faced a drowning risk five times greater than females during encounters with rip currents. Those aged 16–24 demonstrated the maximum exposure-adjusted risk for rip drowning, and people who resided in regional or remote locations encountered risks three times greater than those living in urban areas.
During the 10-year period from 2013 to 2023, it is predicted that 2.04 million adults aged 16 or older became unintentionally trapped in rips, and 170 people lost their lives to rips during the same timeframe. According to these statistics, one person dies for each of the 11,977 individuals rescued from a rip current. Each fatal rip encounter witnessed approximately 2,449 individuals escape because of assistance from surfers along with lifesavers and other beach visitors.
Rip current fatalities on Australian beaches remain a major, preventable hazard, particularly for young male swimmers and residents outside urban centers. Future preventable beach fatalities will need public awareness campaigns and surf lifesaving techniques combined with improved exposure analysis and safety advancement methods for further reduction of deaths.
References: Kelly S, Ledger J, Koon W, et al. Quantifying rip current-related drowning deaths and exposure on Australian beaches. Inj Prev. Published online April 9, 2025. doi:10.1136/ip-2024-045565
