Can you swim under britain

Last year, 34 people died while swimming in open waters, according to the National Water Safety Forum. Hot weather often brings with it a spate of water-related deaths. The body of a swimmer was pulled from a lake at Cotswold Water Park in Gloucestershire on Tuesday and searches are under way to find three people who have gone missing in the Thames in London. It is impossible to stop people swimming but they should be aware of the risks and take precautions, according to Claire Huggins of the Royal Life Saving Society.

Ms Huggins said: "At this time of year and with this type of weather it is really tempting to go for a swim. People are looking for places to cool off and that is understandable, we just urge people to take precautions. Hidden dangers include currents, submerged debris and pollutants, but Ms Huggins said one of the biggest threats is the unexpected cold water shock, a physical reaction to sudden immersion in cold waters.

It can be deadly even to the strongest swimmers, you can still be caught out," she said. Anyone entering the water should consider the possibility of such a shock, Ms Huggins said, and if possible prepare for it by entering the water slowly and not beyond their depth. Swimming in the sea, no. It is very different from swimming in a pool, and you'll need to be very careful of currents and tides.

But it's wild fun you'll never forget. Follow our tips to help you have the best time. There are so many wonderful coastal places for a wild swim.

Many UK beaches have Blue Flag awards for the cleanliness of the water and other facilities like lifeguards and whether drinking water is available. Think about the tide times and the currents - some beaches aren't suitable for swimming because currents like rip tides can easily catch out swimmers and drag them out to sea. It also helps to choose a flat, shallow beach, rather than one that slopes away very steeply to the sea.

You wouldn't want to suddenly get out of your depth. A lot of beaches have lifeguards to keep an eye on swimmers in the sea. If they do, you'll probably spot handy flags which show you where it's safest to swim too. The sea tends to be fairly cold all year round in the UK, but you'll find the waves warmer between July and September.

My brother-in-law, Mark Woolfrey, is a dedicated outdoor swimmer who goes out with like-minded friends no matter the season or weather. The coast here has the beautiful but vulnerable red sandstone cliffs strewn with breccia boulders below. It's a simple, low-cost hobby with minimal gear needs. Getting involved can be as easy as downloading the map of the best wild swimming places in the UK , grabbing a cossie and heading off. Many new and veteran open swimmers joined open-water swimming groups , and there are even organised trips to favourite swimming spots along the UK's extensive coastline.

Wild swimming presented an opportunity to get some exercise, explore the local countryside and even visit new places in search of different waters. Though wild swimming requires no memberships, clubs and swimming groups around the UK also saw a surge in interest during the pandemic. North Pembrokeshire-based Bluetits Chill Swimmers gained 8, new Facebook followers over the last year.

And, according to Outdoor Swimmer magazine's annual report, more than half of new swimmers enjoyed the experience more than they expected. But fun is not the only reason people are taking up the hobby. A study published in British Medical Journal Case Reports provided the first case report that cold water swimming may be an effective treatment for depression. The theory behind this is that one form of stress — ie the shock of cold water — adapts the body for another, in this case the stress response associated with depression and anxiety.

While more evidence is needed to support the hypothesis, some people have formed their own swimming groups based on their own experiences. In summer , Chris Reeves founded Win the Morning, Win the Day , a group that organises morning walks on the beach followed by a swim in the sea, all the while breaking the stigma surrounding mental health by talking openly about it. The group started in the town of Gosport and has seen sister groups spring up around the UK, in cities including Leeds and Manchester, and even abroad, in Bahrain.

Rachel Ashe, founder and director of Mental Health Swims , who has mental health conditions stemming from childhood trauma, came upon the benefits of cold-water swimming by chance.