Christmas swim gets seal of approval

WHATEVER about the danger of sleeping with the fishes, the traditional Christmas Day swim at the famous Forty Foot in Dublin’s Sandycove brought a new and unexpected hazard this year in the shape of dozens of hungry grey seals.

The number of these hyperactive marine mammals has soared in recent years and, according to regular swimmer and yachtsman Fred Espey, they can produce a nasty bite.

“They can be pretty fearsome creatures at the best of times, but the main problem is when they approach you and you pull your leg away suddenly,” Mr Espey said.