For all the times I have been caught in riptides, I am very lucky to be alive today, but never had a problem in LOS.
The first time it happened, I will never forget. Just a teenager, and a very poor swimmer at that time, and it was my first time in the ocean in New Jersey. When I felt myself being pulled out, I didn't understand it, and panicked pretty bad. I swam like crazy for the beach, but wasn't making much progress. Realizing that I might die, then I gave it every last bit of strength I had. I got in as far as where my feet touched the bottom, when I went under, and I pushed off and jumped to get a breath, but really had no strenght left, and could feel myself being pulled down and going backwards. I really thought the end was near, and there were no lifeguards or people around. Just then there was a really big muscular black girl walking dwon the beach alone and she saw me. She went out, grabbed me and pulled me back in. I ended up spending the next couple of days with her. I was sad to say good-bye to her, since I felt I owed her my life, and she wanted me to come to Philadelphia, and live with her. But I had to say No. My friends from white suburbia that I went to the shore with were already freaked out enough that I had hooked up with this big Amazon black girl. Just the same, I will never forget her!
Even after that experience, I never learned, and had a few close calls later in California and Mexico. But that was after I learned to swim much better, and was able to get myself back to shore, just barely!!
