Charlie Brown, you're a good dude.
Growing up in Southern California, I used to hit the beach every summer, and I've had do deal with a few undertow/riptide situations, but I always had my trusty bodyboard with me. It came in handy quite a few times when I was sucked/pushed pretty far from shore and I would have tired myself out if I'd had to swim back to shore without assistance.
I think it's healthy to get occasional reminders about how puny you are in the face of forces of nature. I also think it's healthy to know what you're getting into and know how to stay calm and use your head in potentially dangerous situations.
I'm sorry to hear about the girl. When a child dies in a way that could have been prevented with a bit more knowledge on the parents part, it's always tragic.
