A TOP swim coach has warned about the dangers of 'wild swimming'.

The pastime is gaining in popularity since the onset of Covid, with more and more people taking to lakes and the sea.

But Fenwick Ridley, founder of open water adventure group H2oTrails, Fenwick Ridley from Hexham has urged caution about the public’s expectations of ‘wild swimming’.

The 36-year-old, from Hexham, has noticed that there has been an increase of swimmers in open lakes when leisure centres are full and it becoming a frequent activity during lockdown.

He said: “Through the power of social media, it looks like fun and anyone can do it and at any time of the year.

“However, it can be dangerous without proper training or teaching sessions, especially when the water is below sub-zero temperatures and people crack the ice for a swim”.

Although Mr Ridley is not discouraging swimming in the open lakes, he does urge caution through his 23 years of coaching and own ‘open swimming’ experience.

He says:”If people do want to go swimming then my best advice would be to join a course or a group start from summer onwards. This will allow swimmers to understand how their body changes and how to act in any emergency.

“By joining a professional group they can look after you on land to make sure you warm up properly.”

The swim coach would also like to add that any open water swimmers should also consider environment factors when swimming.

Ridley says:”It is important to look after the water when you have just swam in it and not to leave any litter behind. Additionally, many people also forget that the water has creatures in it that can cling to your wetsuit. So it is important to not wear it again on the same day or anywhere else and to pick them off so they can stay in their habitat.”

For more information on open water swimming sessions visit https://www.H2oTrails.co.uk