TOM DALEY spent his first proper day of retirement on Brighton Beach – in a KNITTED swimsuit – after his medal-winning performance in Paris.
After the silver medal for the 10m platform event Along with his partner Noah Williams, the heavily decorated Olympic diver showed off the unconventional swimwear that featured the words 'Don't Drink and Dive' emblazoned across his posterior.
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As he watched his teammates compete in the 2024 Games, the father of two, who announced his retirement from diving earlier this week, his hand returned to knitting and has also produced a line of knitwear through his clothing 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 of the dangers of drinking alcohol near water.
To further bring the message to life, the British diver unveiled the swimsuit next to 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 perhaps I understand more than most its power and the need to respect it to stay safe.
“I'm proud to be part of helping spread this message. Stay safe and 'Don't drink and don't dive'!”
It is based on research among 2,000 Britons which found that a staggering six in ten (62 percent) took a dip after drinking alcohol, despite the fact that doing so can have devastating consequences.
More than one in three (37 percent) of drinkers are happy to have one or more drinks before drinking water, with Gen Z saying this is as high as 78 percent.
In fact, 56 percent of these young drinkers have drunk near water in the past year, compared to 31 percent overall.
They are three times more likely than Gen Xers to have gone into the water after drinking in the past year (29 percent versus 10 percent). In addition, 44 percent think it is fine to swim in the shallow end as long as you are not drunk.
This age group is also twice as likely (39 percent versus 19 percent) to think it is socially acceptable to get in the water after drinking, compared to Gen Xers.
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But what is concerning is that 32 percent of all adult alcohol-related drowning victims are between the ages of 18 and 29, according to data from the RLSS.
Malibu's Craig van Niekerk said: “Summer and an ice cold drink go hand in hand, so when the temperatures rise many of us love to dip our toes in the water to cool down.
“But it is important that people are aware of the dangers that this can entail. Our research shows that there are still many people who do not take this into account.
“You don't even have to swim, just being near open water and consuming an alcoholic beverage can be enough to put you in danger.
“Staying safe this summer means keeping it fun by drinking responsibly.”
It also found that 80 per cent of adults were unaware that one in four drownings in the UK involved alcohol, suggesting a lack of awareness of the dangers of swimming and drinking.
Yet 26 percent are not concerned about the risks of swimming with friends and having a drink.
And 15 percent did not recognize how dangerous it is to consume a drink while doing water activities, such as kayaking or SUP.
As a result, one in ten (11 percent) have been on a boat in the past 12 months while or after drinking alcohol.
Further research by the RLSS found that 59 percent of alcohol-related drownings between 2018 and 2023 occurred in inland waters, such as rivers, canals and lakes, posing a threat to more people than just coastal residents.
In fact, 85 percent of all drowning victims are male and 66 percent of people who drowned under the influence of alcohol had no intention of ending up in the water.
Even leaving alcohol out of the equation, 31 per cent of Britons would feel comfortable going into the sea during the British summer without a lifeguard on duty.
Matt Croxall, chief executive of the charity Royal Life Saving Society UK, added: “Sadly, the risks of handling water while under the influence of alcohol are underestimated.
“This campaign may seem light-hearted, but it aims to convey a life-saving message about the importance of not drinking alcohol and not diving into the water in any form.
“With this initiative we encourage people to learn more about how to stay safe and enjoy the water safely this summer.”