28/12/2025
In my other role as an open water coach leading groups in the sea for almost 7 years now I felt compelled to write this. This is relevant to every sauna user who uses the sea to cool off. Please consider the things you don’t know about the sea. It’s not a force to be messed with and you enter at your own risk.
Take good care.
Norma x
❗️RISK ASSESSING ENTRY TO THE SEA❗️
I am compelled to remind sea swimmers of how to assess whether it’s safe to enter the sea or not after the awful events where 2 men have been lost and others injured after the Christmas Day swim at Budleigh, Devon. It really upsets me to see so many ill-informed comments after the event on news reports about this tragedy and how to assess the sea. Solid advice is not reaching enough people sadly.
For full disclosure, I am an open water coach and have been running group swim events and breaks in the Outer Hebrides for almost 7 years all year round in all weather. We have led hundreds of sea swimmers safely on many offshore adventures. I have spent the last 5 years running sea safety courses with Steve from H2OTraining and we know through experience there are many many more people who still enter the sea in all weathers but don’t fully understand the dangers or how to spot them.
I am not commenting on what happened to those poor men. They have lost their lives and their families and loved ones will be devastated. Show some kindness to them but please try and understand how this could be prevented through a proper PERSONAL risk assessment.
I have never swam at Budleigh but from my own assessment through videos I can see a number of red flag warnings not to enter and want to share this to help some understand why it would have been a big NO from me to enter:
🚩 Those waves were almost double the height of an average sized person
🚩 Big waves can mean rips. That wall of water has to go somewhere and by the looks of it, there were travelling rips going down the coast
🚩 They were frequent, every 6-7 secs maybe less
🚩 The shore looked steep and pebbly where they were breaking
🚩 They were dumping waves which have a lot of weight and force potentially smashing you to the stones if you are caught at the break.
🚩 Herd mentality may have prevailed over any personal risk assessment. Don’t rely on safety in numbers in those conditions
🚩Weather warnings were in place
Whether it was organised or not if you are going to enter the sea in winter make sure YOU understand the basics of how to risk assess whether it’s safe for YOU to enter. Never mind anyone else. There have been organised swims where people have lost their lives too. You are the only person responsible for your safety when entering this type of environment. Yes, go with other more experienced sea swimmers if you’re new to this but don’t fully rely on any other person to ensure your safety. Get educated.
Don’t be under the illusion that a quick dip within depth would have kept you safe in those conditions. There were far too many red flags already.
Although I don’t run the online course with Steve anymore I would highly recommend you get yourself signed up to be better equipped at keeping yourself safe. It’s called Safer Sea Swimming. I’ll put a link in the comments.
Here also is a link to the RNLI safety advice.. they are not just there to rescue. They offer sound advice. And yes in all weather a tow-float can save your life by making you visible for rescue. Countless people are saying why there would have been no point. Absolutely not true. It’s possible you will be rescued sooner or sadly retrieved to allow loved ones to grieve 💔
https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/open-water-swimming
Be safe everyone but be responsible for yourself and respect the sea around the UK especially in the winter 👍🏻
(📸 picture below is of a group of sea swimmers in the Outer Hebrides)
Norma
