What can currents and wave action cause an unresponsive drowning person to do?

When a person is unresponsive in the water, currents and wave action can create the illusion that they are swimming. This occurs because the movement of the water can cause the body to be tossed around, making it seem as though the person is actively trying to swim, even if they have lost consciousness and are not able to control their movements. This resemblance to swimming can mislead observers into thinking that the individual is still capable of effective action, when in reality they are unresponsive and need immediate rescue intervention. This phenomenon emphasizes the importance of recognizing that not all movements in the water indicate a person's ability to swim or their state of consciousness.