Five Students Drown in Rip Current; Bodies Still Missing
- William
- Oct 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 27
Late last Sunday afternoon, five young men drowned at Vodarevu Beach in Chirala Mandal, Andhra Pradesh, India. Police report the group—engineering students from VIT University Amaravati — entered the sea when a “strong current” swept them away.
The tragedy illustrates how quickly seemingly familiar waters can become lethal. Strong waves push water towards the beach; that mass of water must return to the sea and it often does so via narrow, fast-moving channels called Rip Currents.
If you’re swiming in the sea, make sure you’re equipped with the Sea Swim Manual - the essential guide to keep you safe.
It is reported that two of the young men swam in to help the other three - but all five drowned, and two bodies are still missing. This is a common outcome in attempted rescue situations; people go in to help their friends, but without proper training and awareness they become victims themselves.
The danger of rips is that once you’re caught in that pull, every swimmer — even a fit one — is fighting for their life. This means safety in numbers is a myth: when a rip forms, each person struggles individually, unable to help their friends. It is reported that two of the young men swam in to help the other three - but all five drowned, and two bodies are still missing.
Tide School Tips
How to Stay Safe
This tragedy is a stark reminder that the sea demands respect, not confidence in numbers. Five young swimmers were caught by a rip current that none of them could outswim — a situation that unfolds in seconds and leaves no time for rescue.
Their loss teaches three vital lessons: always plan your exit before you enter, learn to recognise the tell-tale signs of a rip, and remember that survival depends on staying calm, floating, and escaping sideways — not fighting the current.
Plan Your Exit — Before You Enter
Don’t assume you can “just swim back”. Pick two exits: your intended one and a downstream backup. Stand high, watch three–five wave sets, and ask: If I’m swept 200–500 m alongshore, where can I land safely?
Avoid starting near seawalls, rocks or cliffs that remove exit options. If there’s a lifeguarded zone, use it. No clear exit = no swim.
Read (and Respect) the Rip
Rips look like rivers in the sea: a darker lane with fewer breaking waves, foam/debris flowing seaward, rougher texture beside uniform whitewater. Expect rips to pulse after big sets.
If you can’t confidently map safe water vs. rip channels across the whole beach, don’t go in. Remember: a group does not make you safer in a rip—each swimmer is overpowered individually and cannot rescue the others without a float.
If Caught: Float, Signal, Escape Sideways
The survival sequence for rip currents is simple and proven:
Float first (face up, calm breaths) to ride out the initial panic and conserve energy.
Signal (one arm raised, slow wave) and shout for a lifeguard/Coastguard.
Swim across the current, not against it; when the pull eases, angle back with small waves.
If you want to boost your Sea Sense, book a masterclass with William (Head of Tide School), tailored to your location and activity.
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