Take the plunge and you will be addicted

BRITS are becoming addicted to the buzz of wild swimming in the winter.

- KATE NELSON

They say plunging into brutally cold water is "like a drug" - once you've tried it, you're hooked.

There has been an "exponential" rise in the pursuit since Covid, says Dermott Hayes, who runs organised wild swims.

The coach, who has trained endurance sport athletes for over 15 years, said: "It becomes a little bit of a drug.

"There's an addictive nature of open water swimming for sure. There's the anxiety before you get in the water, and when you get in your skin is screaming at you that you are cold.