00:00When you think of the beach, the first scary thing that comes to mind is probably the sharks, isn't it?
00:07These poor boulders have the bad reputation of being the big raw fish of the ocean.
00:11But honestly, they cause a lot less fatalities than jellyfish, algae and even sand.
00:17Every year, tons of people go to the beach to enjoy the sun and relax near the waves.
00:23But digging holes in the sand can be very risky.
00:26In February 2024, a tragic incident occurred.
00:30A 7-year-old girl was trapped after the collapse of a hole about 1.5 meters deep that she had dug with her brother.
00:38Despite the efforts of the passers-by to rescue her, the rescue arrived too late.
00:43You may think that digging in the sand is harmless, but deep holes can be a deadly trap.
00:49Sand is defined by its size and not by its material.
00:53Beach sand is generally made up of quartz, but tropical regions can be covered with coral sand.
01:00The weight of the sand depends on what it is made of.
01:02Pure quartz is quite light, about 1,044 kg per cubic meter, but more mixed sand can be much heavier.
01:11When the sand is wet, it keeps its shape well.
01:15But once dry, it's a whole other story.
01:18If you dig a hole and the sand dries, it may collapse.
01:22The danger increases considerably if someone stands near the edge.
01:26The weight of the person makes the hole even more unstable.
01:30Once the sand starts to fall, it fills all the air pockets,
01:34which makes breathing difficult for trapped people inside.
01:39Saving a person in a sandslide is not an easy thing.
01:43The sand is heavy and never stops collapsing.
01:45Rescuers must act quickly.
01:48Ideally, they have 3 to 5 minutes before the trapped person suffocates.
01:53If you ever find yourself in such a situation,
01:56it is advisable to expose the mouth of the person so that they can breathe while someone else works to clear it.
02:04If you go to the beach, show discernment about the holes.
02:09The best rule is to never dig a hole deeper than the knees of the smallest person in your group.
02:15It is also advisable to fill the holes once you have finished playing.
02:19Someone could easily get stuck in a forgotten hole,
02:22and even a shallow hole can cause injuries.
02:25Between 1997 and 1207,
02:29holes in the sand cost the lives of 31 people in the United States.
02:33Yes, in just 10 years.
02:35Do you remember that I told you that sharks were responsible for fewer deaths?
02:40From 1997 to today,
02:42in 27 years,
02:4429 people have prematurely died in the United States because of sharks.
02:48Going to the beach and finding only a pile of algae?
02:51A real disappointment.
02:52But if some algae are quite acceptable,
02:55even to taste,
02:56others can pose serious health risks.
02:59Even if you only approach them.
03:01Algae proliferation, or red tide,
03:04occurs when the algae develop in an unbridled way.
03:08These efflorescences can release harmful toxins that are harmful to humans,
03:12fish, crustaceans, and even birds.
03:15One of the most famous algae efflorescences occurs almost every summer on the coast of the Gulf of Florida.
03:21Even those that are not toxic can disrupt the ecosystem.
03:24When the algae flutter and decompose,
03:27they consume all the oxygen in the water,
03:29leaving the fauna and flora literally out of breath.
03:33It is absolutely necessary to avoid consuming shellfish from areas affected by these toxic algae proliferations.
03:40In 1990,
03:42six fishermen almost met a tragic end
03:45after swallowing steam-cooked molds that they had collected near Cape Cod,
03:49in Massachusetts.
03:51Swimming in these waters does not always present a serious health risk,
03:55but it remains unadvised.
03:57Some people may suffer from skin irritation or eye diseases.
04:02Also be careful not to swim near dead fish,
04:05because harmful bacteria can proliferate.
04:08And if you start to feel weird after entering the water,
04:12it is preferable to go out and rinse yourself in fresh water immediately.
04:16You know, it is not always a specific factor that makes some beaches dangerous.
04:21Sometimes the beaches themselves are full of surprises.
04:24Take for example Etibay or Mission Beach in Australia.
04:28You will probably have to share the sand with the cassowary,
04:31the most intimidating birds on the planet.
04:34Imagine that you are about to relax and take a sun bath,
04:38and that you discover these giant birds,
04:40unable to fly, not far from your towel.
04:43They look like seagulls, but more frightening.
04:46They can weigh more than 72 kilos and can be a little aggressive.
04:50So be careful.
04:52If these birds do not scare you,
04:54the black sand beaches of Kilauea could be a good deal.
04:57They have a welcoming air,
04:59but these beaches are located right next to one of the most active volcanoes in the world,
05:03Mount Kilauea, which has been erupting since 1984,
05:06and pours its burning lava into the ocean.
05:09But these warm waters are nothing compared to some Hawaiian beaches.
05:14Swimming in Hanakapiai Beach, on the coast of Napali in Kauai,
05:18is a very bad idea.
05:20The beach is sadly famous for its powerful currents,
05:23which can drag you ashore in an instant.
05:26If you get caught in one of these currents,
05:28you will very quickly be taken 10 km from the nearest shore.
05:32Official records state at least 30 deaths,
05:35but a panel located on site has more than 80.
05:38The rip currents pull the water offshore
05:40and can quickly drag people and objects
05:43far from shallow waters located near the beaches.
05:47In general, they move at a speed between 1.6 and 3.2 km per hour,
05:53but they can reach up to 8 km per hour.
05:56The best professional swimmers are not so fast.
05:59These currents are particularly violent when the rip is important,
06:03but you should never underestimate a stream of water.
06:06You can also find rip currents at the mouth of rivers,
06:10in estuaries, and even near lakes.
06:13It can be difficult to spot them.
06:15If you notice a water zone agitated at the surface of the ocean,
06:19it may be a rip current.
06:21These currents are not specific to a particular place.
06:24They can be found all over the world.
06:26In Playa Zipolite, Mexico.
06:28In Fraser Island, Australia.
06:30The list is long.
06:32Another danger related to water is that of rip waves.
06:35These are violent waves that come directly to the beach,
06:39often on the sand.
06:41Imagine the force of a car crashing on your body.
06:44It's a bit like what you feel when you encounter a rip wave.
06:48These waves can cause serious injuries,
06:50especially to the neck and spine,
06:53even if they don't look that bad.
06:55Hawaii is known for its intense rip waves,
06:58especially in places like Keiki Beach,
07:01where surfers attack the wind,
07:03looking for strong sensations.
07:05If you go to a Hawaiian beach,
07:07keep an eye on the rip waves,
07:09and always watch out for lifeguards.
07:11People who like to swim, play, or dive in the ocean
07:14are often victims of jellyfish bites.
07:17Their long tentacles release venom
07:19by means of thousands of small, sharp darts.
07:22However, for us, humans,
07:24this venom is generally not very serious.
07:27Yes, it's very unpleasant,
07:29because the burn can be intense
07:31and our skin will turn a little red.
07:33But that's all.
07:34You won't even see the bitten area after a few days.
07:37Most jellyfish bites heal themselves
07:39in a few days or weeks,
07:41averaging a few home care,
07:43even if they can sometimes lead to
07:45much more serious symptoms.
07:47However, if you find yourself
07:49in the coastal waters of northern Australia
07:51and the Indo-Pacific region,
07:53and you are bitten by a jellyfish,
07:55you may be in big trouble, my friends.
07:57Indeed, it is in this region
07:59that jellyfish live.
08:01And they are not kidding.
08:03Some people rightly call them
08:05sea geckos.
08:07They are probably the most dangerous
08:09and most toxic jellyfish in the world.
08:11Their bite is incredibly atrocious,
08:13to the point that some victims
08:15had a heart attack
08:17before even being able to reach the shore.
08:19According to the rumor,
08:21these jellyfish have been responsible
08:23for the death of nearly 80 people
08:25in Australia since they were first identified.
08:27So, how to recognize them?
08:29Unlike ordinary jellyfish,
08:31jellyfish are pale blue and transparent.
08:33They owe their name to the fact
08:35that their bell-shaped body
08:37looks like a cube.
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