Six-time world champion swimmer Mark Foster has thrown his weight behind The Mirror's Save Lives for Sam water safety campaign, sharing how his friend, Devon antiques dealer Matthew Upham, drowned in the sea near Exmouth on Christmas Day. The 64-year-old got into difficulty in rough sea while trying to rescue another swimmer during a festive dip.
Mark said: "He was a good swimmer. He went in to save someone. It just goes to show how dangerous the water can be."
Mark Foster's Own Terrifying Experience
Despite his many swimming medals, Mark, 56, who was recognised for years as the world's fastest swimmer, said: "I've also had some scary moments in the water." The Olympian-turned BBC pundit, whose book My Double Life was released this week, recalls a terrifying incident swimming in the sea as a child.
Mark, who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, with his partner, strategic consultant Craig McKay, said: "When I was 10 or 11, I swam for Southend on Sea swimming club and once a year we'd do the pier swim, which was about a mile and a half long. It was around the same time I'd watched Jaws. I'd been in five or 10 minutes, and I saw something under me. My mind went into overdrive. I began to panic, I kept swallowing water. It's amazing how much energy goes out of you when you're panicking. I was fished out by a boat nearby. I'd have been in trouble if they hadn't been there. Even now, I will never go out more than 50m into the sea. I like to know that I can get back pretty quickly."
Mark Foster's Water Safety Advice
Mark's advice to readers is: if you're thinking about jumping in, take a couple of seconds to assess whether it's really safe - this could mean the difference between life and death. If you're jumping in to save someone, is there a life buoy you can throw them first? When in the water, don't panic. Keep your arms by your side or in a starfish position and lie on your back. Fill your lungs with as much air as you can and you'll float.
The Mirror's Save Lives for Sam Campaign
With drowning claiming so many lives, The Mirror wants Britain to treat it as a national emergency. The Save Lives for Sam campaign was launched after 19 people lost their lives in one week in May. The campaign is asking the government to launch an urgent public awareness campaign ahead of the summer holidays, which must include lifesaving advice such as avoiding diving into the water, and information on cold water shock. Among other demands, The Mirror is calling for a Sam's Law - to make it a legal requirement for safety equipment to be installed around high-risk large bodies of water.
