‘Unseeable swimsuits’ hazard as Olympic hero swimmer joins the battle
Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington has called for the next government to ban “dangerous” blue, white or grey swimming cozzies because they cannot be easily seen under water.
More than two-thirds of kids go swimming in swimsuits of those colours which means if they get into trouble in the water, it’s difficult to find them.
Becky, 35, who won two golds at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, said: “I’ve swam my entire life and I’ve only recently become aware that there are certain colours that can’t be seen underwater.
“As a parent, I feel like I should have been aware of this sooner.”
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The swimming champion has joined forces with package holiday specialists On the Beach to introduce the legislation with a Change.Org petition.
(Image: ONTHEBEACH)
She added: “Alongside On the Beach, I’m urging the future government to review the legislation around selling blue, white and grey swimwear to children so that retailers are being safe and helping look after our children by not selling unseeable swimwear that could put them in danger.”
A number of swimming costumes were tested in two metres of water and it was discovered blue, white and grey became almost invisible at that depth.
Blue is the most popular colour of swimwear for British kids but following testing it was revealed to be the colour that’s hardest to see.
Colour expert Lee Chambers explained: “It can be much harder to see swimwear in blue, white and grey due to how water interacts differently with light, how we perceive colour at depth when submersed, lack of light reflection and how colour blends when underwater.”
The water boffins say the best colours for safety are black, green, pink, red, yellow, purple or fluorescent ones.
(Image: Getty Images)
On The Beach has polled parents and found 90% did not know about the colour invisibility and is calling on shops to stop selling swimsuits in those colours.
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach said: “I’ve conducted spot checks at Asda, Tesco, Next and Primark and they are just some of the retailers that continue to act irresponsibly by selling swimwear in blue, white and grey.
“Either retailers aren’t aware of the dangers, or they simply can’t see past the fact that these colours are some of the most popular ones that keeps the cash rolling in. They need to do better by their customers and put safety before profits.”
Matt Croxall, Royal Life Saving Society UK Charity Director said: “We would urge parents to choose brightly coloured swimwear for their children.”
To sign the petition visit www.onthebeach.co.uk/swimwear-safety
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