Ilfracombe pensioner beats a life-long fear of water to take up sea swimming

An Ilfracombe woman has conquered her life-long fear of water at the age of 72 with the help of a local swim school.

Christine Moreton was originally scared of using the swimming pool and swimming in the sea seemed impossible but she has defied all to gain her confidence through the support Coastal Swim Coaching and instructors Terri and Allie..

Thanks to the support and guidance of the coaches, she is now swimming 50 lengths in a pool and more than 200m in the sea, in the style of front crawl.

Encountering coaches Terri and Allie during a coastal walk, Christine, fuelled by a long-standing desire to join swimmers, decided to confront her aquatic fears.

Her first interaction with the coaches involved expressing her anxiety about putting her face in the water – a fear she had carried since a negative experience in her younger years.

Undeterred by sleepless nights and nerves, Christine attended a free session offered by Coastal Swim Coaching. The session, including safety talks and exercises to ease into the water, marked the beginning of Christine's transformative journey.

"From entering the water that first time, I’ve felt safe with them by my side. Meeting Terri and Allie has enriched my life and given a new dimension to my life, both with overcoming fear and meeting new people," said Christine.

Encouraged by the coaches, she transitioned from a desire to merely dip in the sea to mastering the front crawl.

As January 2024 unfolds, Christine has reflected on a year of triumphs. Overcoming her fear of being out of her depth, she embraced adventurous activities such as bodyboarding and snorkelling, inspired by Terri and Allie's support.

Her newfound confidence led her to an unforgettable experience of swimming with seals near Lundy in September.

In the face of past struggles in a 10 metre pool, Christine's determination propelled her back to a 25 metre pool. With the assistance of Allie and the calming advice of Terri, she not only conquered her fear but achieved the remarkable result of swimming 50 lengths in an hour.

On January 13, Christine proudly completed her first 250 metre sea swim, setting new personal goals.

Allie and Terri commend her dedication, emphasising that Christine's journey is a testament to the transformative power of trust and support in conquering open water fears.

Both Allie and Terri said: "We are so proud of Christine's journey and progress and want to highlight her dedication and motivation to achieve her goal (which to swim front crawl was not originally her aim, but she was loving it so much she wanted to learn)"

"It just goes to show that taking that first small step can open so many doors to the wonderful world of open water. Christine is a perfect example that anyone can do it with the  trust and support of trainers and coaches."

Reflecting on her journey, Christine has encouraged others and said: "Anyone can do it with the trust and support of trainers and coaches."