104-year-old man gives up wild swimming due to sewage concerns

By Elizabeth Hunter

A 104-year-old who puts his longevity down to wild swimming for 50 years has given it up, due to concerns over sewage.

Bill Smith has been swimming in the sea around the Isle of Wight for half a century - and says he believes the practice has contributed to his long life.

But in a film made in collaboration with the Blue Marine Foundation, Bill has explained that he no longer feels safe to do so due to reports of sewage in rivers and oceans.

"I look at the sea, how lovely it is, but regrettably, I feel I won't be able to swim here again," Bill from Cowes said.

"I used to swim all year round. A pool is static water - there's no movement.

"The sea goes on forever. I would much prefer to swim in the sea, because the sea is much more buoyant.

"But now, it's on rare occasions I go in the sea.

"Unfortunately, the radio said the other day that all the rivers in Britain were polluted.

"They never mentioned the sea - but there's no need to, because all the rivers come into the sea.

"That makes me worried to think about swimming in the sea.

"The sea now is not like it used to be."

The film explores the changes that Bill has seen in British water during his lifetime, and discusses his worries that pollution in the water may affect his health.

It was made as a part of the Solent Seascape Project - a multi-million-pound initiative to restore nature to the Solent’s waters.

Bill hopes that in his lifetime, he will be able to see pollution levels in the sea drop - and be able to swim in the wild once more.

"The sea is remarkable in the way it can recover - and I'm going to live to see it," he said.

"A nice clean sea and nice clean rivers - and I'll be able to swim in them again."

Louise MacCallum, Solent Project Manager for Blue Marine added, “Restoring the intricate marine habitats in the Solent is so important not just for marine animals and plants that live here, but also for the health and wellbeing of the people and communities who call this beautiful seascape home.”