Cold water swimmer takes plunge every day in memory of much-loved fellow dipper

Naomi Corrigan
·3-min read
Paul Bartaby is carrying out the challenge in memory of his friend Debby Tarantino
-Credit: (Image: Paul Bartaby and Cleveland Police)


Over the summer, cold water dipper Paul Bartaby completed a month-long series of daily dips in memory of a much-loved friend who died in the sea at Redcar.

Paul had been good friends with Debby Tarantino, having met through a group of like-minded swimmers at South Gare. He was there on the day of the tragedy and said it was a "devastating" time for all who knew and loved Debby.

As reported, Debby died in July last year after being found unconscious in the sea near Majuba car park. An “experienced” open water swimmer, the 57-year-old was pulled from the water with the Great North Air Ambulance Service and RNLI attending the scene to administer first aid.

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Debby was taken to James Cook University Hospital, where she was placed in a coma, but she sadly died 12 hours later. On the anniversary of the tragedy, Paul decided to launch his cold water dip fundraiser, in a bid to help the RNLI which tried to save his friend.

With the help of pal Andy Bennett, who was also there when Debby suffered a cardiac arrest in the water, he recorded a video each day of his challenge. He then shared them on social media in a bid to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the lifesaving charity.

The 31 dips raised £1,400 for the RNLI. It also helped spread the word about cold water swimming and all the reported benefits for both mental and physical wellbeing.

Paul at Linhope Spout in Nortumberland
Paul at Linhope Spout in Northumberland -Credit:Paul Bartaby

On completion, Paul decided to carry on his drive, in memory of Debby. "It got to day 32 and I was like, 'what do I do now?'," he said.

"I used to post a video on Facebook and Youtube and some said it was like Love Island was coming to an end! People were engaging and say it was helping with their mental health."

Under the name 'Just a Man in the Water', Paul has so far completed 129 dips. Along with Andy, who lives in Ormesby, the pair have travelled far and wide creating videos at well and lesser-known beauty spots all over the country.

The hope now is to turn the concept into a CIC, non profit organisation, taking people out to beauty sports such as waterfalls and rivers. "We're building up a business plan and and a vision," said Paul. "It's baby steps at the moment but that's the overall goal."

Paul 44, an electrical contracts manager from Eston, who has three children Corey, 18, Gracie, 12, and Max, nine, said the benefits of cold water dipping are vast. "I have struggled with my mental health and it's really helped me," he said.

"It's definitely the community and friendship side of things but it's also the sciences involved. Cold water gives you a dopamine and serotonin rush that spikes in your body and puts you in a sort of fight or flight mode and a rush of endorphins.

"It also creates mental resilience build-up because you are putting yourself into a challenging situation. But you also have the giggling and laughing together, where we are all saying, "What are we doing? This is crazy!"

The link to the Just a Man in the Water Facebook page is here.

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