'It was bracing' – Cold-dip commando Tim Crossin takes the plunge at freezing John O'Groats
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Cold-dip commando Tim Crossin braved freezing temperatures to take the plunge at John O'Groats this week on the northernmost leg of his 2800-mile fundraising challenge around the UK coast.
Tim (59), a former Royal Marine who has been diagnosed with cancer four times, is taking a series of 31 cold-water swims to raise money for three good causes.
He reached John O'Groats around 5.30pm on Tuesday, a few hours later than scheduled after encountering snow and ice on the road trip north, and spent several minutes in the water at the harbour.
Tim said the air temperature was about minus two degrees and the wind-chill made it feel about minus 10.
"It was dark and it was blowing a bit of a hooley," he said. "It was bracing."
Tim, from Poole in Dorset, says cold water "takes your mind off your problems" and has been encouraging other intrepid swimmers to join him on his journey.
He set himself a target of £10,000 in aid of the Royal Marines Charity, Lymphoma Action and Rock 2 Recovery but has already raised more than £16,800.
"It's great," Tim said. "I am absolutely humbled by the response."
He is travelling around England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland throughout January, starting and finishing in Poole. He insists he will pull on his trunks and have a swim, no matter what the temperature, weather or sea state.
Tim is going solo by campervan for most of the journey. But his brother Kev, also a former Royal Marine, stepped in to do the driving in his Jeep from Skye to John O'Groats on Tuesday and then down to Loch Ness on Wednesday, as the campervan would have struggled to cope with the wintry conditions.
Tim was diagnosed with cancer for a fourth time in December 2022.
Tim, who provides personal protection, security and survival training through his company Esparta Ltd, said: “As a former Royal Marine, I’d like to be running up a mountain, naked, with a fridge on my back or swimming the Channel dragging a piano or something else mad and extreme – but all the chemotherapy has severely damaged my lungs, limiting my physical capability.
"Although I can’t swim for long, I thought I could raise some money and awareness by doing short swims around the country every day in January.
“Cancer can, if you let it, take over your life and become the only topic of conversation. I decided to change the narrative as well as do something good and to give back.
“The cold water takes your mind off your problems – you focus your thoughts on that exact moment. I have found it extremely beneficial in dealing with the emotional and physical challenges and demands of living with cancer.
“It’s quite a challenge but I know there are many veterans, serving personnel, swimming groups and members of the public around the country who will take the plunge with me and enjoy a hot drink and chat afterwards, The support of the communities I visit will be key to this initiative.”
Donations can be made online through JustGiving.
He has backing from former Royal Marine commando, Special Forces operator and TV personality Steve "Titch" Cormack, from the BBC TV The Speedshop, along with other TV and sporting celebrities.
Tim served in the Royal Marines for 18 years, completing three tours of duty in Northern Ireland as well as serving in Lebanon and the Congo. After his service he was employed as a professional bodyguard working in war zones.
He survived many dangers, including being blown up in his vehicle while on personal protection duties.
Tim trained and ran security teams for anti-piracy duties in the Indian Ocean.
He is a father of two and grandfather of five.
Tim has had three lymphoma cancers in the past four years and was recently diagnosed with a fourth cancer in his oesophagus, liver and spleen.
He is due to reach Lossiemouth on Thursday, then Arbroath and Edinburgh over the following two days, before continuing down the east coast of England.
