Rip currents usually reach a speed of 1 to 2 feet per second, but some can clock in at 8 feet per second, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer,
A decent swimmer can maybe swim 3-4 fps. I seriously doubt these middle-aged parents could.
Something that’s weird when you’re out in the ocean wading in deep water and with waves is your distance to shore can be very deceptive. Without realizing you’ll be another 50 yards out from shore in a matter of minutes.