- Written by Eleanor Maslin
- bbc news
image source, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Specialist NHS staff attempt swimming world record
Two NHS workers stepped out of the corridors of a Lincolnshire hospital to attempt a world swimming record in Tallinn, Estonia.
Nicola Foussam and Frances Mills from Boston will compete at the Outdoor Winter Swimming World Championships.
It will run from March 4 to March 10, 2024, and the water temperature will be 0.7 degrees Celsius, just above freezing.
They are founding members of the Boston Bluetits Chill Swimmers.
Ms Hussam, a senior clinician in dermatology, will compete in the 25m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke and crawl relay.
Mills, a specialist family practitioner, competes in the 25-meter front crawl and front crawl relay.
Both women are lifelong swimmers and members and organizers of the Boston Park Run.
“Take on a personal challenge”
They will also attempt the world record for the largest winter swim relay in history at Knoblesner Harbor.
Bluetits Chill Swimmers is an inclusive group of 100,000 members around the world who participate in cold water swimming.
Fifty-eight other Bluetits Chill swimmers from across England will join Mr Houtham and Mr Mills on the trip to Tallinn.
“We’re not doing it to win medals, we’re doing it to take on a personal challenge in the most beautiful setting,” Mills said.
Ms Hussam said: “When the pools were closed during the pandemic, I was often at the River Witham, with my long-suffering husband working as a lifeguard, lookout and kit warden.”
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) said it was important to do thorough research on your own before going for a cold water swim and join a local swimming safety group.