'Not enough emphasis on learning to swim'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay swimming coach Bronwyn Macdonald is alarmed at the number of drownings during the festive season and stresses the importance of people learning to swim at a young age.

Macdonald said the Ironman 70.3 triathlon, held in Mossel Bay in November, highlighted that many adults do not know how to swim properly.

"Most realised that they needed lessons, so with help and training, they were able to compete. Swimming training is extremely important, with so much water around in Mossel Bay."

Macdonald offers swimming lessons in Hartenbos for beginners right through to masters swimmers. She also organises an open water swim on a regular basis at Santos Beach.

Macdonald stresses: "There is not enough of an emphasis on swimming in Mossel Bay." She points out that there is only one school with a swimming pool - Park Primary.

"Swimming is a basic life skill your child needs.

"Many adults have not had the opportunity to learn the basic skills. It does not take long as an adult to learn to swim but children learn really quickly. Age five to seven is a good time to learn. If adults come with a will to learn, they can learn quickly."

'Public swimming pool needed'

Macdonald also says there should be an affordable public swimming pool, centrally located in Mossel Bay.

"Once children and adults are able to swim, they need to do some open water swimming to be proficient in the ocean. Also, they must only swim where there are lifeguards."

She said many teenagers were coming to her, wanting to learn to swim. "Swimming should be promoted at schools - especially primary school level. It's very frustrating, as a coach, that there is not a proper public facility to use."

Macdonald (083 275 2141) is a member of the Royal Swimming Academy, which is a swimming club based in the Garden Route.

"Once children and adults are able to swim, they need to do some open water swimming to be proficient in the ocean. Also, they must only swim where there are lifeguards."

Bronwyn Macdonald (back, in wetsuit) and some of her swimmers had an open water swim at Santos Beach before the Christmas holiday. Lifeguards accompanied them as a safety measure.