Swimming into terror: Bloodied on Boxing Day, lifeboat fundraisers swept on to the rocks
Jumping into the sea on a chilly Boxing Day was always going to hurt.
(prHWY.com) December 27, 2012 - xiamen, Yemen -- Cuts and bruises: The injured swimmers hobble over the rocks to shore, helped by lifeguards and bystanders
Danger: A man is wrenched from the stormy sea after the situation began to look worrying
RNLI crews and bystanders rushed to help injured participants, some of whom were in fancy
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http://www.cheapherveleger2013.com/herve-leger-miranda-kerr-white-strapless-bodyhugging-dress-p-54.html, at the afternoon swim in Sidmouth, Devon.
Many of the 370 swimmers, who were raising money for their local branch of the RNLI, emerged shivering and wounded after the 11am start.
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Eve Mathews, who watched the swim, said: 'It is a classic Boxing Day event in Sidmouth and everyone enjoys taking part, but this year the conditions weren't great.
'It was quite choppy. Some of the swimmers were swept towards the rocks.
'The barnacle-covered rocks meant the swimmers in difficulty were well covered by grazes. The Inshore Rescue members on the beach went to help.'
Poor weather for swimming: Heavy rain throughout December has caused havoc across Britain
Up until five years ago only a few dozen took part in the Sidmouth event, but the number has since increased tenfold.
Organiser Keith Knight said: 'A few people had a few scrapes but there were no serious injuries. It went well given the weather, with some having a paddle and others enjoying a swim.'
The Boxing Day swim, which started in Sidmouth in 1985, is one of numerous similar events held across the country. Seen by some as a bracing and effective way to freshen up after a day spent eating and drinking to excess, it is viewed by others as a foolish and uncomfortable exercise.
A swim across the Thames in Henley was called off after the Environment Agency said the river was dangerously flooded.
It was flowing so fast that the safety boats would not be able to manoeuvre if any of the swimmers got into trouble.
Unhappy ending: The fun-loving fundraisers clambered out of the water with the help of a lifeboat and a few dedicated Boxing Day lifeguards
Grateful: The swimmers were relieved to be back on dry land after what could have been a very nasty Boxing Day surprise
A Christmas Day swim in Brighton was also called off after the local council closed the beach because of bad weather. Brighton and Hove City Council said conditions would be 'extremely dangerous' for even experienced swimmers, with winds of up to 30mph, a high tide and a heavy sea swell forecast.
Along the south coast, a woman died when a wave knocked her off her feet as she paddled off Hastings beach in East Sussex.
Three witnesses tried in vain to rescue her and she was washed a short distance out to sea before being recovered by a lifeboat crew. She had been with a small group of bathers who decided to brave the sea on Christmas morning despite dangerous conditions.
With winds gusting up to 50mph, the coastguard said conditions were 'not suitable for swimming or small craft' when the incident happened at 10.40am.
He said the woman suffered head injuries when she was washed into a groyne, a barrier made of concrete, steel and timber leading from the beach to the sea which is designed to reduce erosion
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