 You're only fighting against the rip current, and you're wearing yourself out, and you ultimately become exhausted and overwhelmed, and that's how it gets you. You swim against it as you're swimming parallel. You ultimately get out of the rip current, and therefore you can turn around and come into shore. Also, get on your back. You float. Float your way backwards. Again, as long as you're above the water, you're fine. That panic is what sets in for some people, and that ultimately is what takes them out.