Have I got it right in thinking they (fortuitously) landed ‘down current’ (for want of a better term)? If so, that ‘n’ knots less relative ground speed on touchdown might have been significant.
I recall a USAF pilot who was horribly burned in an F80 (T33?) crash back in the 60’s who used to lecture in military circles on forced landings. One of his major points for landing on an unprepared field was: “Lighten the aircraft s much as possible to get your speed as low as possible on touchdown. The energy formula is ‘ MV squared’, so every knot you can reduce your landing speed by can have a major effect on your chances of survival.”
In this case, with a strong following current, the aircraft’s relative touchdown speed with the water would have been somewhat less than it would have been in still water. (Anyone know if they [again fortuitously] landed into wind, even further lowering their relative touchdown speed?) I bring this up only to suggest that maybe the outcome in any future similar incident might not be so benign.
Of course, if the current was against them, I’m talking utter bollocks.