Swimming to save ourselves

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Former national swimming coach Hilton Brown has a rule: if you can't swim 400m, you can't call yourself a good swimmer.

Speaking after four people drowned at Te Mata Bay, near where Mr Brown has a bach, the man who has taught hundreds of people to swim laid down tough rules.

How useful is the 400m rule?

Water Safety New Zealand executive director Alan Muir said: "It's not a clear-cut issue. It depends on things like whether it's a controlled environment and how fit the person is, because if you are fit you can swim a lot further."

Swimming New Zealand executive director Catriona McBean agreed.

"We do not have a rule of thumb. You can't make a definitive statement about what is a suitable distance."

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand chief executive Geoff Barry said being able to swim 400m did not make a person a good swimmer.

It depended on fitness, the conditions, and how long it took to swim the 400m.

One of the entry requirements to become a surf lifeguard is to swim 400m in nine minutes.

Mr Barry said that if a person could achieve that, he or she would be familiar with swimming, would have good flotation and could be considered a good swimmer.

Most people believe - rightly or wrongly - that they are good swimmers.

A Herald poll two years ago found 84 per cent of respondents reckoned they could swim to save themselves.

This week, a random poll of people in Auckland found opinion divided over the distance a "good swimmer" should be able to swim, although there was general agreement that 400m was demanding.

Kirsty Charles, a student from Mt Eden, considers herself a good swimmer and says she can swim 400m.

"I think 400m may be a wee bit high. I think a someone who could swim 200m would be able to save their life."

Her friend Chris Novak believes he is a reasonable swimmer and would be able to make 400m.

Mr Novak thought the distance a person could swim was irrelevant.

"What is important is the conditions and other factors like rips."

Two 15-year-old students from Auckland Grammar, Sam Canestri and Scott Patterson, believed 400m was a tough standard.

Both boys said they would be able to swim 400m, but Scott admitted he would be struggling.

Robyn Grace from Avondale thought she would probably get tired after 50m.

"But if I was a bit fitter, yeah, I could do it. It's a long way though. I think maybe it's a bit tough."

Marc Laverick, also from Avondale, said he was a good swimmer - "like a fish" - but he would struggle to make 400m.

The need to swim 400m might make a difference, said Leanne Loveridge from Mt Eden.

" I could do it if I had to. I think it's tough."

Too many cigarettes and asthma would hamper Chris Long from central Auckland.

"It's not too tough a standard," he said. "If people are going to swim in choppy seas they should be able to swim that far."