Jamie braves -11 degrees water for charity swim (From Echo)

Jamie braves -11 degrees water for charity swim

11:46am Tuesday 4th December 2012 in Local News

A FREEZING December day in Southend, the sun’s out but temperatures are below 0 - so what else to do than take a quick dip in the sea!

That’s what Jamie Thain decided to do after taking on a bet from his workmates who have been working on moving earth from cliffslip excavations on the seafront.

However the daredevil was fully supported by the RNLI who accompanied him for his half mile swim from Gilbey’s cafe out to the furthest buoy.

Jamie, 30, took on the dare and decided to raise money for Southend lifeboat.

He said: “I’m not a great swimmer and I suppose it’s a bit of a silly thing to do but I wanted to try it with the RNLI as back up. It was about minus 11 in the water.

“It was absolutely excrutiating. It felt like my lungs were collapsing when I got about half a mile out. It was quite scary. I felt ill for about four hours afterwards.”

The father of four was cheered on by his wife Kimberley and his work colleagues. He wore a wetsuit which did not cover his arms or legs, put Vaseline on the rest of his body and had nothing on his feet.

The RNLI lifeboat travelled alongside him as he swam.

Jamie, of Kent View Mews, Basildon, said: “The RNLI told me that they wear several layers and that anyone falling into the water at that temperature would only manage five or six minutes before getting hypothermia.

”I weigh ten stone and don’t have much meat on me so it really affected me. I was really shaking and still so cold after four hours. ”

RNLI spokesman Den Freeman said; “This time of the year the temperature of the sea drops down very low. We would advise people who are not used to cold water and open water conditions to stay out of the water.”

Jamie, who is dad to Jack, seven, Leisha, six , Logan, four and six month old baby Shia, has so far raised £300 for the RNLI.

Wife Kimberley, 27, said, "I think he is absolutely bonkers."