Louise reports top swim tips

Former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin was a fixture on the famous red sofa for 20 years. Now the experienced triathlete has joined forces with the RNLI to help educate people on water safety when dipping or swimming at the coast.

Louise says: 'I love the sea, it’s my absolute passion. I’m a confident swimmer, but anyone can get in trouble, and it could happen when you least expect it.' Cold water shock is a very real risk, as is hypothermia.

Louise’s top tips:

• Toes first, knees, hands – just everything really slowly.

• Always go prepared. I’ll wear a wetsuit, a brightly coloured swim cap and take a brightly coloured float with me.

• Never go alone. I either swim with somebody, or someone is ashore and knows my plan.

• If anything happened or I saw someone else in trouble I’d call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. For more safety advice, head to RNLI.org/swimming