Winter swimmer's screams attract emergency services

[Brick]

At least they came .... and they didn't section these swimmers under the mental health act.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/we...cue-alarm.html

A coastguard helicopter was scrambled after cliff-top walkers heard the bathers’ shouts.

Specialist search teams were scrambled to the 150ft drop at St Alban’s Head, near Swanage, Dorset, fearing someone had fallen down the cliff.

After two hours of searching, the men were found and it emerged that they had gone for a swim, but found the water too cold.

They repeatedly cursed using “Anglo Saxon” language and it prompted worried members of the public on top of the cliff to call the emergency services.

But then they do this....

The sea off that stretch of coast is a nippy 8C (46F) — enough to make the toughest bather yelp.

Erm, no it's not. I found 7.2C bare skin fairly challenging, but I didn't make a bit noise about it.

[Wildswimmer]

Originally Posted by Brick

Erm, no it's not. I found 7.2C bare skin fairly challenging, but I didn't make a bit noise about it.

Ditto here, but 2.5C in the Liverpool docks (private water - I was swimming there with permission).

I suspect if those screamers had had their little party in a river (say, the Severn) the reaction by the authorities would have been more robust. The mindset is sea=safe and river/lake=danger, when in fact it's the other way round.

Goes to show the level of "intellligence" of those involved. Even a moron knows that open water in the UK is cold in winter. Did no-one thinking of taking a thermometer?

Last summer the "blue and twos" turned up en masse to haul out a swimmer in the Mersey off Birkenhead. Red faces all around when the guy was found to be simply having a summer swim. It is perfectly legal to swim in a tidal estuary. Perhaps I should do the same but in the next couple of weeks when it's still winter-cold. Might to interesting to see the authorities' response.

Wildswimmer Pete

[manic porpoise]

Originally Posted by Wildswimmer

Ditto here, but 2.5C in the Liverpool docks (private water - I was swimming there with permission).

2.5C? I can cope with 25C ok.

[Dave_G]

I agree, Manic Porpoise! 2.5 is way too cold for me!

[Brick]

Originally Posted by Wildswimmer

Last summer the "blue and twos" turned up en masse to haul out a swimmer in the Mersey off Birkenhead. Red faces all around when the guy was found to be simply having a summer swim. It is perfectly legal to swim in a tidal estuary. Perhaps I should do the same but in the next couple of weeks when it's still winter-cold. Might to interesting to see the authorities' response.

Actually, if the police turn up and you tell them what you think of them in your typical robust style, then you might actually get into trouble.

[Wildswimmer]

Originally Posted by Brick

Actually, if the police turn up and you tell them what you think of them in your typical robust style, then you might actually get into trouble.

Well, no-one can do anything if I can't speak and won't communicate by any other means. I'd just walk away - I've found that dumb insolence works very well.

Wildswimmer Pete