189. In Cold Water: Michael Whiteley

RNLI 200 Voices

When seasoned swimmer Michael got into difficulty, open-water safety training guided him - and his crew - onshore

Many of us have been discovering the joys of winter dips lately. Michael’s cold-water odyssey started with cold showers and learning the Wim Hof Method of breathing. Now you’ll find him dipping in Scarborough’s North or South Bay several times a week. For Michael, getting into chilly water and warming up onshore boosts his circulation and leaves him feeling sharper in his mind. But on one occasion, he ended up getting much colder than he’d planned.

Michael takes us back to that January day, when the waves were higher and the current stronger than they seemed from shore. His story shows the small steps that can lead us into danger, and the many layers – training, experience, community – that keep us safe if things go wrong.

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI  

Interview by Adventurous Audio

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls  

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200