Swimmers David Burns and Maghnus Collins
While training for the Costcutter Swim 360 – an epic 1,600km swim around the entire coast of Ireland in aid of the RNLI and Gorta-Self Help Africa – swimmers David Burns and Maghnus Collins told us why they respect the water.
‘Each morning as we plan our day, we remind each other of the unpredictability of the sea.
‘We talk about the repetitive nature of the task at hand so it doesn't dull our senses to the dangers that exist.
‘Despite our preparation, there are parts of each day that take us by surprise. The shock as you enter the water for the first time isn't something that goes away. Even though we have wetsuits and are ready for the shock, it can momentarily overpower you.
‘It's at times like this that you need your support team to anticipate the dangers and be alert. Knowing that they are on hand gives us great peace of mind.
It's not an environment you would want to be in alone. We do this every day and are still often surprised by the shock the cold can induce.
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