Sea swimmer says daily dip is 'out of this world'

WHEN Davey Longstaff found out the devastating news that his wife Paula had breast cancer, his mental health plummeted.

- DAVID HUNTLEY

> See swimmer Davey Longstaff braving the cold in Cullercoats this morning

The 53-year-old dad-of-two said he “hit a brick wall” and was finding it difficult to cope.

But one day, as he took a stroll along the seafront at Cullercoats, he was surprised to see numerous sea swimmers braving the cold water.

The idea of being in the sea struck a chord with him, and he decided to give it a try.

As soon as he submerged himself in the icy North Sea, he felt like all of his worries disappeared.

He has since become an avid sea dipper and set himself a challenge of swimming in the sea every day in January.

He called the challenge ‘31 Days at Cullercoats Bay’ and stuck to his task despite battling wind, rain, sleet and snow.

On Saturday, he finished, and it has only emphasised how much the sea has helped his wellbeing.