As far as I understand, rip currents rapidly pull someone out to sea only. If someone finds themselves in one, the solutions are to either (a) swim parallel to the coast to get out of the rip current, then swim back to shore, or (b) stay calm, float, and wave for help. Regardless, nothing is forcing someone underwater. Are people that die in rip currents not good swimmers/floaters or panicking?
Growing up in Florida, I’ve known how to swim practically my whole life, which is pretty common here among natives. Are all these people drowning in rip currents this year visitors or transplants from other states like the the four unfortunate men in this article?