What is the worst swimming-related experience you have ever had?

Worst swimming related story? I was at a beach in the Basque region of France with my girlfriend when we got caught in a rip tide taking us out to sea. I knew I could make it out by swimming parallel to the shore until we were clear of the tide and then make it to shore. My girlfriend was tiring quickly though and didn't think she could swim any longer, but was confident she could float along with the the tide. The lifeguards had just packed up and left so we knew we were in this on our own. I decided I'd swim back to shore and grab my surfboard for her to use. I swam the quickest 50 meters of my life against the tide, ran 50 meters for my board and then back to the water. When I got back in the water I couldn't see her floating any longer. I know it must have only been 3-5 seconds but it felt like an eternity before I heard a voice calling to me from the shore. She had been fortunate enough to get lifted to the shore by 3 or 4 large waves. I've never been as terrified in my life as I was durring those 3-5 seconds.

Worst swimming related story? I was at a beach in the Basque region of France with my girlfriend when we got caught in a rip tide taking us out to sea. I knew I could make it out by swimming parallel to the shore until we were clear of the tide and then make it to shore. My girlfriend was tiring quickly though and didn't think she could swim any longer, but was confident she could float along with the the tide. The lifeguards had just packed up and left so we knew we were in this on our own. I decided I'd swim back to shore and grab my surfboard for her to use. I swam the quickest 50 meters of my life against the tide, ran 50 meters for my board and then back to the water. When I got back in the water I couldn't see her floating any longer. I know it must have only been 3-5 seconds but it felt like an eternity before I heard a voice calling to me from the shore. She had been fortunate enough to get lifted to the shore by 3 or 4 large waves. I've never been as terrified in my life as I was durring those 3-5 seconds.