Overview
- Festive swims went ahead at multiple sites including London’s Serpentine Peter Pan Cup, Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside and Lowestoft, where about 300 people took part.
- Organisers in some areas cancelled or postponed long‑running events, with Cornwall’s Coverack swim called off and moved to New Year’s Day, and Torcross, Teignmouth and Torbay’s Torre Abbey events also scrapped.
- The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for Christmas Day covering south‑west England and much of Wales, citing 45–55mph gusts, up to 65mph on exposed coasts, and hazardous large waves.
- UKHSA announced a yellow cold health alert for south‑west England from 6pm on December 25 to noon on December 27 as temperatures and wind chill raised risks for vulnerable people.
- Some organisers adapted plans to proceed more safely, with Hunstanton shifting its start to a sheltered beach, Ilfracombe coaches outlining strict cold‑water protocols, and the RNLI urging people to assess conditions and remember Float to Live.