Monster swim for firefighting team

Firefighters swapped their uniforms for wet-suits as they took a dunking in Loch Ness for a good cause.
Firefighters from West Yorkshire preparing for a swim on Loch Ness.Firefighters from West Yorkshire preparing for a swim on Loch Ness.
Firefighters from West Yorkshire preparing for a swim on Loch Ness.

Thankfully for the team, Nessie kept a low profile while they took on the monster challenge of swimming the freezing waters of Loch Ness from end to end at the weekend.

The temperature in the 23.6 mile long loch rarely rises above 10 degrees centigrade, even in the height of summer, so it was a huge challenge for the team.

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Kyle Styan from Dewsbury Fire Station, was joined by Ossett firefighter Tony Campbell, Martin Judge from Wakefield, crew manager Chris Whittel and retired Ossett Watch Commander nick Overton, for the swim.

The team trained for several months with the Wakefield Triathlon Club at Pugney’s Country Park, to acclimatise to cold water swimming.

As well as the intensive training they had to endure numerous cold showers to simulate the extreme conditions in the Scottish loch.

They were helped by an expert guide in Scotland who provided them with a safety boat and also thermal suits which they wore between each leg of their swim, as well as some welcome Highland hospitality.

The team is raising money for the Firefighters’ Charity.

Anyone wanting to support the event can donate through the Virgin Just Giving website; search for West Yorkshire Firefighters Loch Ness Charity Swim.

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