Stories To Inspire

Having been taught swimming at school Bill was a regular swimmer until he had both legs amputated after a spate of ill-health in 2006.

A life-changing visit to the Isle of Man inspired Bill to return to the water. After seeing a beautiful scene with sea water entering a cove, Bill knew this was a place he would love to swim and vowed to investigate swimming at his local pool when he returned.

Following his operation, he knew he needed alternative ways to keep active and stay fit and swimming was a perfect option for him.

On his first visit to the pool, he wasn’t sure of the set-up so he took his artificial limbs off and put them in a locker in the changing room then crawled to the poolside and rolled in.

He decided that once he surfaced he would just move his arms and see what happened!

It became apparent Bill would need to re-learn how to swim.

“The first time I went along to the pool I only managed a couple of lengths and I was absolutely exhausted,” said Bill.

“But this did not deter me and I gradually built up my lengths and got so much stronger."

Following his initial visit where he crawled to the poolside, Bill tried a host of different ways of accessing the water and concluded he preferred the hoist facility to anything else.

Staff became aware of Bill's needs and offered a wheelchair from the changing rooms to the poolside hoist.

Without any coaching advice, he managed to re-teach himself how to swim during public swim sessions and after 11 months Bill had mastered the front crawl again.

Bill’s overall fitness and breathing improved remarkably through his participation in swimming – he even shed four stone in the process which assisted with his mobility. His stumps also became softer and swimming helped ease the pain from them.

After mastering swimming for the second time, Bill took his involvement to the next step, becoming a ‘swim buddy’ at his local pool in Wirral, helping support new and apprehensive adult swimmers.

“Now I am a swim buddy I hope I can encourage others who may be dubious about swimming to overcome their doubts and take the plunge,” said Bill.

Andrew Warden, 43, has learning and physical disabilities and has always loved the water. 

Since becoming a resident at Avenues Trust Smock Acre care home in Canterbury, he has been supported by staff to enjoy swimming safely. Some of his carers made up the rest of the Swimathon team of five and provided support for Andrew in the water.

...nowadays having a severe disability such as Andrew is not a barrier to being involved in sport.

Swimming is Andrew’s main hobby and over the past four years has given him enormous benefits.

By building up his physical strength he is now swimming at least twice a week at Kings Mead Swimming Pool in Canterbury and Hartsdown Pool in Margate.

Lara Lill is Head of Health and Wellbeing at the ASA. She says: “What a wonderful achievement this is - one of the great things about swimming is that it’s a fully inclusive activity for everyone to take part in. 

“It’s already the favourite sport of many disabled adults like Andrew because it has amazing benefits with confidence-building and all the health and fitness aspects.”

Sarah Carberry, Acting House Manager at Avenues Smock Acre, said:

"When Andrew finished his lengths I told him he had finished and pointed up to his mum telling him she was watching him, Andrew gave the biggest smile I've ever seen.

“He has difficulty communicating but it was clear the first time he got in the pool that he enjoys swimming."

Stella Warden, Andrew’s mum, is also very pleased with the progress Andrew has made.

She says: "I am very happy and proud that Andrew was able to do the Swimathon. I was in tears as I watched him, it was such an achievement him just being part of it.”