When in the process of asking surf life saving veteran Brian Quirk what was the most valuable slice of advice for any swimmer who found themselves in the pull of a rip current he broke in before the question was completed with three straight to the point words.
"Do not panic."
A state of panic was just as dangerous as the state of a rip.
"Look, it is only a body of water so let it take you out and after you get to its head swim parallel to the beach for thirty of forty metres and then swim back in."
However, anyone who found themselves in a rip and was not comfortable that they could basically ride it out should raise an arm to draw attention, and assistance.