Safety alert issued for swimmers in open water following unprecedented pressure on emergency services

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Swim Ireland has issued safety alerts on all of its social media channels amid calls for open water swimmers to stay safe this weekend.

Unprecedented pressure on emergency services follows, following a surge in the sport’s popularity.

The challenges related to open water swimming are greatly intensified at this time of year, with dropping water temperatures, dim light, stormy weather, and stronger tidal conditions.

Cold water shock is a threat, as is fatigue, and swimmers tire faster than they might expect during the winter months as their bodies expend additional energy to stay warm.

Peter Conway, the president of Swim Ireland, says there has been a massive increase in the number of people diving into open water following the closure of indoor facilities at Covid 19.

He said: “As air temperatures drop, as water temperatures drop, as the weather becomes more unpredictable, safety comes to the fore.”

A Water Safety Ireland video went viral in Ireland overnight with hundreds of thousands of views.

Deputy CEO Roger Sweeney says it indicates the enormous level of interest across the country.

“There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of people diving into the sea right now,” he said.

“We all know seasonal swimmers who practice all year round and have a lot of experience in that and are usually very confident.

“However, right now, we are seeing tens of thousands of people who would normally be swimming in pools without access.

“When they don’t have access there is a percentage of those who are getting into the sea.”

The Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI yesterday issued a call for the public to catch up on safety before jumping into the water, but stressed that they still want people to call 112 without hesitation if they spot someone in distress.



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