Risky rip currents after 3 women were swept out to sea

If you’re heading to the beach this weekend, watch out for rip tides and rogue waves.

The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement that is in effect until Saturday night.

“You can actually be in a rip tide, and if your feet are on the bottom, it’s not as bad,” Commander Paul Tomasi with the Carmel Police Department said. “But it slowly pulls you out. And once you lose contact with the bottom of the ocean, you’re going to go out really fast.”

That’s exactly what happened to three friends visiting Carmel Beach from Sacramento last weekend.

Two of the women were treated for shock and hypothermia, and the third had to be revived by CPR. A Samaritan actually gave her CPR on the beach.

“She was brought back to life,” Tomasi said. “She really did pass away. But, she was brought back to life by the hospital staff and the emergency crew and the bystander who started CPR right away.”

With this weekend’s warning, emergency responders are reminding beachgoers, and especially tourists, to be extra careful.

David Bentz, visiting from Stockton with his granddaughter, didn’t know about the rip tide warning, but said he always keeps her close.

“I told her not to go out into water that is over the top of her feet,” Bentz said.

Children are especially susceptible because they weigh less and can easily get carried out.

“I’m nervous about some of the parents not keeping their kids close enough,” Bentz said. “I saw three or four of them just kind of take off running, and I’m going ‘oh no’.”

Waves can be deceiving, and some are more dangerous than they look.

If you do get stuck in a rip tide, swim parallel to the beach to get out of it. Otherwise, you will just exhaust yourself in the cold water.