How safe is open water swimming?

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, a spate of tragedies in England and Scotland earlier this summer prompted warnings from rescue services, who urged people to understand the risks posed by swimming in open water. He added: “We might be having Mediterranean air temperatures but we’ve still got traditionally cold northern English waters.” What are the risks of open water swimming? Cold water is one of the biggest risks of open water swimming if a person is unfamiliar with the activity. Swimmers are advised: “If in doubt, don’t go out.” Lee Heard, UK charity director of the Royal Life Saving Society, said: “Whilst we recognise how tempting it is to cool off in the UK’s beautiful waterways, they hide hazards that tragically take lives each year and we urge the public to use caution when entering the water, getting acclimatised to the water temperature before jumping in.