Olympic swimmer Libby Tricket has warned of the risks of drowning ahead of the summer.
The El Nino weather pattern This year is expected to usher in a hotter, arid summer, increasing the risk of drowning incidents.
Recent research has revealed a 28 percent increased risk of drowning due to swimming or bathing during heat waves.
For this reason, 38-year-old Trickett has urged Australians ‘take water responsibility and water safety very seriously.’
The athlete lent her personal story about water safety, which was telling 9Honey “The scary thing is that it happens in the blink of an eye.
Olympic swimmer Libby Tricket has warned of the risks of drowning ahead of the summer. Pictured
Trickett, 38, has urged Australians to ‘really take water responsibility and water safety seriously’
“Speaking from experience, a few years ago my youngest daughter slipped into the pool.”
“My husband was there with her and my oldest daughter and he turned around for 20 seconds to help my oldest, and my youngest slipped into the water,” she explained.
‘He didn’t hear her. The only reason he heard her (eventually) was because she managed to get a little head above water and, you know, gasped a little.
“He was there, he was within arm’s reach, you know, doing all the ‘right things,’ but you get distracted for a moment and it happens very, very quickly.”
Sharing her personal water safety story, the athlete said, “The really scary thing is that it happens in the blink of an eye. Speaking from experience: a few years ago my youngest daughter slipped into the swimming pool.
As an ambassador for Poolwerx, the former Olympian shares her near-miss experience with the aim of preventing tragic incidents this summer.
Trickett acknowledges that people might assume that as a swimmer she is very knowledgeable about water safety.
‘I think sometimes we think we are better swimmers than we could be and we don’t listen to the conditions the professionals tell us about. So it’s very important to listen to the lifeguards, swim between the flags and I think learning about the ocean is also very important.”
“I think sometimes we think we’re better swimmers than we could be, and we don’t listen to the conditions the professionals tell us about,” she said.
Yet she emphasizes that it is not only the safety of our children that deserves attention in the coming months.
Recent statistics show that adults, especially those over 45 years of age, accounted for almost 60 percent of drowning incidents.
It comes as Trickett and husband Luke welcomed another child earlier this year.
The swimmer announced the happy news on her social media in May.
“He’s here,” the proud mother cheered in her post. “The final piece of our family puzzle (for real this time!),” she continued.
Former Olympic champion Libby Trickett and husband Luke welcomed son Alfie Sunny earlier this year – all pictured
The gold medal winner said Alfie was born via elective caesarean section, weighing 3.5kg and measuring 52cm in length
“Alfred Sunny Trickett arrived at 9:09 a.m. on May 17. Every birth I’ve had has been extraordinary and this one was no different.
‘Calm, full of joy and laughter, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to meet our baby boy.’
Libby added an intimate photo to her story.
A smiling Libby is seen holding her newborn to her chest shortly after giving birth, while husband Luke poses next to her.
The champion swimmer, who is already mum to three girls, joked: ‘Alfie has no idea what he’s in for with his three big sisters and the girls are absolutely in love.’
The gold medalist said Alfie was born via elective caesarean section, weighing 3.5kg and measuring 52cm in length.
Libby and Luke already share three daughters Poppy, seven, Edwina, four, and Bronte, two – all pictured. The champion swimmer joked: “Alfie has no idea what he’s in for with his three big sisters and the girls are absolutely in love,” she said