TOM DALEY spent his first proper day of retirement on Brighton Beach – sporting a pair of KNITTED swimming trunks – following his medal-winning performance in Paris.
Having secured the silver medal for the 10m platform event with partner Noah Williams, the heavily decorated Olympic diver modelled the unconventional swimwear featuring the message ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’ on his posterior.
Joe Pepler/PinPepTom Daley has worn knitted swimming trunks after retiring from diving[/caption]
Joe Pepler/PinPepThe Olympic ace has been promoting a good cause[/caption]
While watching teammates compete in the 2024 games, the father-of-two, who announced his retirement from diving earlier this week, turned his hand back to knitting and has also produced a line of knitwear through his apparel brand, Made with Love.
The limited-edition range features the same ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’ message as part of Malibu’s responsible drinking campaign, in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), to warn people about the dangers of drinking alcohol near water.
To further help bring the message to life, the British diver unveiled the bathing costume alongside a statue reading ‘one in four’; the number of alcohol-related drowning incidents in the UK.
Daley said: “I’ve always loved being in the water, but maybe more than most, I also understand its power and the need to respect it to stay safe.
“I’m proud to be working to get this message out there. Stay safe and ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’!”
It follows research, of 2,000 Brits, which found as many as six in ten (62 per cent) have gone for a dip after drinking alcohol – despite the fact it can spell devastating consequences.
More than one in three (37 per cent) of drinkers think it’s okay to have one or more drinks before getting into water – and this rises to 78 per cent amongst Gen-Z.
In fact, 56 per cent of these young drinkers have drunk near a body of water in the last year, compared to 31 per cent overall.
They are three times more likely to have entered water after drinking than Gen-X (29 per cent vs 10 per cent) in the last year, and 44 per cent believe it’s fine to swim in the shallow end as long as you’re not drunk.
This age group is also twice as likely (39 per cent v 19 per cent) to harbour views that it’s socially acceptable to enter water after having a drink, in comparison to Gen-X.
AFPDaley won silver at the Paris Olympics[/caption]
AlamyHe has stepped away from the diving board after a glittering career[/caption]
But worryingly, 32 per cent of all adult alcohol-related drowning victims were between 18-29, according to the RLSS data.
Malibu’s Craig van Niekerk said: “Summertime and an ice-cold drink can go hand-in-hand, so when temperatures rise, many of us may enjoy dipping our toes into water to cool off.
“But it’s important for people to be aware of the dangers this can present, and our research has shown there’s still a number of people who don’t consider this.
“You don’t even have to be swimming, just being near an open body of water and having an alcoholic beverage can be enough to put you in harm’s way.
“Staying safe this summer means keeping it fun by drinking responsibly.”
It also emerged 80 per cent of all adults weren’t aware that one in four UK drownings involved alcohol, suggesting a lack of awareness around the dangers of swimming and drinking.
Yet, 26 per cent aren’t concerned about the risk involved when swimming with friends while having a drink.
And 15 per cent didn’t acknowledge the danger of having a beverage while taking part in water-related activities, such as kayaking or paddle boarding.
As a result, one in 10 (11 per cent) have been on a boat during or after having alcohol in the last 12 months.
Further insight from the RLSS revealed 59 per cent of alcohol-related drownings between 2018 and 2023 occurred in inland waters – such as rivers, canals and lakes – posing a threat to more than just those who live by the coast.
What’s more, 85 per cent of all these drowning victims are male, and 66 per cent of those that drowned under the influence of alcohol never intended to be in the water in the first place.
Even when taking alcohol out of the equation, 31 per cent of Brits would be comfortable entering the ocean during the UK summertime with no active lifeguard on duty.
Matt Croxall, charity director at the Royal Life Saving Society UK, added: “Sadly, the risks of being around water under the influence of alcohol can be underestimated.
“This campaign – whilst on the surface appearing light-hearted – seeks to resonate and deliver a lifesaving message around the importance of not drinking alcohol and getting into water in any capacity.
“Through this initiative, we urge people to learn more about how to stay safe and enjoy water safely this summer.”