A British expat has learned the hard way about the risks of ignoring dangerous currents after he was left scrambling for safety among the waves at a tourist hotspot.
Joshua Fox, 32, visited the Figure Eight Pools in Sydney’s Royal National Park for the first time with two mates on Saturday. He said the “beautiful” location was initially everything he hoped it would be.
“We hiked down to the Eight Pools and obviously it’s beautiful down there. We jumped in the water and there were little waves splashing over us but we never thought it was a dangerous spot,” he told Yahoo News. However, the idyllic day quickly took a turn.
“Then out of nowhere this huge wave wiped us all out, we were sent flying. We were tumbling around and I was just trying to protect my head,” he said.
Thankfully the men were plunged into the Figure Eight pool to safety, with this likely preventing them from being “dragged out to sea”.
“We could have died,” Fox said.
Expat in pain after suffering injury from wild swell
The expat, who has lived in Australia for over eight years and admits he “should have known better”, was left with a deep cut on his foot and has since needed stitches.
“I cut my foot quite badly… I needed stitches. It’s still painful now,” he said.
Joshua Fox needed stitches after his foot and leg were cut against the rocks. Source: TikTok/jshfx
He has urged other visitors to prioritise safety when going to the popular swimming spot and to research the risks before just jumping in, including checking the swell and tides.
“Educate yourself on what high tide and low tide means and when to avoid dangerous currents,” he said.
Tourist attraction faced closure after multiple deaths
The Figure Eight Pools have long been a ‘must go to’ location for those visiting the city, and thousands of pictures can be found on social media of visitors showcasing its beauty.
However, there has long been a shadow cast over the area as it’s also claimed the lives of many swimmers caught out by large swells. A tourist died in 2019 after he was hit by a large wave and washed out to the ocean, with warnings often issued for the area.
“Pay attention because no Instagram picture is worth risking your life for and dying for,” Josh said.
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