Ren Baldry, 46, is urging greater awareness of the dangers posed by rip currents following the tragic death of her son, Ryan, who was swept out to sea while swimming at West Wittering Beach in West Sussex on September 4, 2023. Ryan, 19, had gone for a spontaneous late-afternoon dip with a friend when both were caught in a powerful rip current.
His friend managed to reach the shore and attempted to assist Ryan, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Ren Baldry described the moment police arrived at her home to inform her of her son's disappearance as terrifying. After an extensive search, Ryan's body was recovered by fishermen four days later off Hayling Island in Hampshire. Baldry stated that losing her son has devastated her family, describing the aftermath as a "living hell."
Baldry believes Ryan lacked sufficient knowledge of sea safety, despite having had swimming lessons. "I think Ryan just had a lack of knowledge, and perhaps if they'd have had some sea safety in school," she commented. While schools in England are required to provide swimming lessons for primary pupils, Baldry feels more emphasis needs to be placed on beach and coastal safety, particularly for children living near the sea.
To raise awareness, Baldry and her sister, Katherine Reed, are sharing Ryan's story and campaigning for better water safety education. They have established an Instagram account, @ryan_baldry_19, to promote their cause. Baldry also recommends resources from the RNLI (@rnli) and the HM Coastguard for educational content on water safety.
Understanding Rip Currents
Rip currents, often mistakenly called rip tides, are powerful streams of water running out to sea that can rapidly drag swimmers and debris from shallow areas into deeper water. They are not influenced by tides and can reach speeds of 4 to 5 mph. According to the Met Office, the term "rip tide" is inaccurate.
Safety Advice
Deputy Chief Coastguard John Craig emphasized that rip currents can form on any beach with breaking waves and stressed the importance of swimming at a lifeguarded beach. He advised looking for warning signs such as a lack of waves, visible debris in the water, or choppy conditions, which may indicate a rip current.
For individuals caught in a rip current, the recommended action is to "Float to Live." This involves staying calm, conserving energy, tilting the head back, controlling breathing, and moving hands and legs to help float. The RNLI promotes this method, which advises moving parallel to the shore to escape the current rather than swimming directly against it. If witnessing someone in distress, the advice is to call 999 and request the Coastguard. Baldry also highlighted the importance of discussing cold water shock and sharing one's location with an adult when visiting the coast.