The event's organiser, Martin Wade, says he will miss the annual tradition.
A Boxing Day swimming tradition that started more than 20 years ago will not continue this year, its organiser said.
Hundreds of swimmers have taken part in the annual Boxing Day Dip on Mersea Island in Essex since it started in the early 2000s, but insurance problems mean it will not go ahead this year. Organiser Martin Wade, 76, said it would not be possible to meet the requirements of the event's public liability insurances, which include the number of marshals and volunteers needed to run the event safely.. Mr Wade, chairman of the West Mersea lifeboat station, hopes to arrange an alternative fundraising event.Mr Wade said he and his wife organised the first event after learning of something similar in Cornwall.
About 50 people turned up in the first year, and it grew to 180 swimmers and about 1,000 spectators in 2023.He said stricter insurance requirements could mean the event was unable to return in the future."Gradually, over the years, things like risk assessments and event plans have come in that are highly scrutinised."It raised about £4,000 a year, Mr Wade said.
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