Rip currents present dangers on South Padre Island

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The drowning death of a 13-year-old girl on South Padre Island is bringing awareness to the dangers of rip currents.

Rip currents can drag people further into the water as the waves break apart.

Currently, South Padre Island is under a red flag warning. That means waves are strong and rip currents are dangerous.

With strong waves, there is a big risk for fast rip currents. Beachgoers, like Debbie Acosta, are aware of the risks of getting in the water.

“I look for where the sea shells kind of go out, where the seashells kind of rolled, then I know that the tide is pulling the water out, and I normally move to the side of that," Acosta said. "If I am fishing, I will stay pretty close to that but if I am with the kids, I move away from the big seashells.”

Acosta tells her grandchildren to get out of the water if the waves are rough and pull them into the ocean.

Other beach visitors simply try to stay closer to the shore when swimming.

“I try to avoid the area and not to go too far into it because I know it kind of gets deep all of a sudden, so I try to limit going too far from the shore," said Tourist Haley Gim.

Cameron County Police Park Ranger Chief Horacio Zamora says rip currents can be very dangerous even at short distances.

“The issue with a rip current is you can be standing pretty close to your loved one and by the time you catch up to them, you might not be able to get to them in time," he said.

Zamora urges anyone who might be drinking or does not know how to swim to avoid the water. He advises swimming with a companion and asks people to be aware.

Zamora adds there is a lifeguard on duty for the beach access areas, but the times and areas where they patrol vary.