swimming against the tide

Yesterday I took a trip to Sandon Dock, home of Liverpool's wastewater treatment works, to meet another of the Mersey people. Dave Sandman, a United Utilties Field Service Engineer, is a man who leads a spectacular double life. By day (and occasionally by night too, as he's often on emergency call), he's part of the maintenance team at the huge UU site which processes millions of tonnes of waste from Merseyside's homes and businesses. But on a Wednesday evening and a Sunday morning, Dave joins a select band of brave (crazy?) souls training for an annual swim across the River Mersey.

I learned a lot about open water swimming and the associated dangers - treacherous currents, clouds of jellyfish, chunks of errant timber and the ever-present risk of your brain freezing in the cold water and plunging you into unconsciousness. Despite Dave's obvious enthusiasm, somehow I wasn't overcome with the desire to join in with a plunge into Salthouse Dock - maybe next year.

Dave first swam the river in the late 1990s, in aid of Water Aid, and has done it almost every year since. His best-ever time was 22 minutes, which looks pretty good from where I'm standing. He's also a keen cyclist and runner, and tells me that his young daughter is itching to join him for a swim in the Mersey as soon as she's old enough.

Dave will, of course, be featured in Mersey: The river that changed the world, which will be available later this year. Hopefully he will inspire many more of you to take up the challenge of crossing the Mersey for free.......?

Comments

[Lesley]

Think I'll stick to the ferry thanks.

[Atie van Doesburg]

have got colleague who wants to swim the Mersey to raise funds for the day centre (for people with disabilities in Bebington); what does she do next and who can she contact. please can you advise