I survived a dangerous rip current by floating - here's what people should know to stay alive
Summary
Two brothers, Euan and Andrew Gray, were caught in a rip current at Longsands beach in North Tyneside but survived by using a floating technique taught by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Euan was later rescued by lifeboat crews, and now he promotes water safety to help others survive similar situations.Key Facts
- Euan Gray (22) and his brother Andrew (19) were caught in a strong rip current in May 2025.
- They used the RNLI's Float to Live method, which involves tilting the head back, relaxing, and floating on the back without panicking.
- Andrew reached nearby rocks on his own, but Euan was rescued by the Cullercoats RNLI lifeboat crew.
- The brothers learned the floating technique from their father years earlier at a local swimming pool.
- The RNLI recorded around 50 cases in 11 years where floating helped save people from drowning.
- The RNLI advises swimmers caught in rip currents to swim parallel to the shore if they can, and always use the floating method first.
- Euan and Andrew are running daily half marathons in May to thank their rescuers and raise awareness about the safety campaign.
- In 2024, there were 193 accidental drownings in the UK, with men aged 20-29 being the highest-risk group.
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