A young man tried to walk through the sea from Blackrock to Howth as it looked "so close" and he believed the water to be shallow enough to walk the whole way.
The distance across the sea is approximately 12km, in a straight line, but the route crosses Dublin Bay which has a depth of over seven to 20 metres to allow large ships to pass through.
He made it almost halfway there before he had to turn around as he found himself out of his depth.
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However, the “dangerous” attempt sparked much concern online as people warned him of how lucky he was not to have been caught in a rip current.
And Water Safety Ireland issued a strong warning to the public against making an attempts like this saying that he put himself at risk of serious injury or drowning with every step.
The man, who goes under the name @pearsesforgottenaccount on TikTok, uploaded a clip to the social media platform last week and it has already received over 250k views.
It shows him starting his journey in the water near Vance’s Harbour in Blackrock where the water is only up to his knees in depth.
A voiceover on the video says: “I attempted to walk from Blackrock to Howth. It seems so close.
“I’m so far from the Blackrock beach now and still the water is only up to my knees.”
He pans the camera out looking towards Howth in the distance, as the caption reads: “Getting closer and closer.”
The video then shows the water suddenly getting deeper as it rises up to his chest and he appears to be almost out of his depth.
The man admits defeat and turns around with the voiceover saying: “Okay the water is getting a bit higher now.
“I don’t want to risk getting my phone wet so will have to turn around. Such a shame.”
He claimed that “according to google maps” he made it out as far as Poolbeg Lighthouse.
The area of the Dublin coastline has strong currents in places and the deceptively shallow depths at Sandymount Strand have left other people in need of being rescued when they are suddenly cut off by the incoming tide.
Other TikTok users took to the comments to warn him of the “mad riptides” and how dangerous his attempt was.
One person wrote: “I would not be recommending this, very irresponsible”. A second said: “All fun and games till the tide comes in and your struggling to stay afloat.”
A third said: “Need to be careful at sea, riptides are strong in certain areas!”
Meanwhile another user wrote: “What did you expect to be able to walk straight across with water up to your head height… ferry’s go through there.”
Padraig Judge from Water Safety Ireland warned the public against making attempts like the one shown in the video saying "people should not overestimate their ability in open water".
He warned of the passing boats in the bay as well as the dramatically varying depths of the water caused by sand bars, the currents which could have swept him out to sea, and the long distance which even the most seasoned open water swimmers would struggle to complete.
Water Safety Ireland said: "Given the proximity to Dublin Port, there are ferries, boats and other personal watercrafts operating in the area. This means the man is at risk of being seriously injured if he comes into the path of one of these such vessels.
"Although this TikTok user references “I’m so far from the Blackrock Beach now and still the water is only up to my knees”, it is important to remember there are varying depths caused by physical elements such as sand bars. These can result in sudden and dramatic changes to the depth of the water, leading to an individual quickly becoming submerged and unable to return to shore.
"Secondly, tides, winds and currents are liable to change – at any time the man could lose his footing and be swept out to sea with very little warning. The risk increases with every step he takes.
"Thirdly, the direct distance from Blackrock to Howth is significant. For even the most seasoned open water swimmers, such distances would require a lengthy period of time in the water and possibly a support team on hand to complete.
"While there has been a period of warm weather in recent days, the temperature of the water will be much colder than air temperatures. An extended duration in the cold water can lead to muscle cooling, potential hypothermia, loss of muscle function and ultimately death.
"All of the above are serious drowning risks. Water Safety Ireland strongly advises against making attempts like the one shown in the video. We would encourage the public to enjoy the water but to do so sensibly, by bathing and swimming at a lifeguarded waterway and between the red and yellow flags. Likewise, it is important to swim within your depth and stay within your depth – people should not overestimate their ability in open water.
"Finally, if you see somebody in difficulty in the water, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard for assistance."
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