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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Swimming in the Thames

127 replies

Ginfizz2 · 08/08/2020 23:04

Today I took my child to the ‘beach’ on the Thames. There’s a lovely sandy beach type area on the south bank which for a moment you can think your actually at the seaside. The water is obviously the Thames and therefore questionable around how clean but then I guess the sea probably isn’t all that clean. Anyway my child just sat digging huge holes to burry things and had a nice time. but there was a child around 9 years old with her mum. This child kept swimming off in the Thames maybe 2-3 metres away from the shoreline. The mum was sat with her friend drinking their bottle of Prosecco (there are now loads of places you can buy drinks from along the south bank to take away). The mum and her friend would occasionally call the child back trying to get her to come back to the shore. Not really sure why I’m posting this really, I think I was just so taken aback by the complacency of the mother. Intrigued to hear others thoughts.

OP posts:
lljkk · 08/08/2020 23:07

I would have been the Prosecco mum. I have a higher tolerance for risk than you do, OP.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 08/08/2020 23:08

The water quality at beaches is tested so would be much cleaner than the Thames. I would have headed to the Serpentine Lido or the fountains (are they on) if I was that mother. I'd imagine the current would be quite dangerous there too.

ItIsMyName · 08/08/2020 23:09

Swimming in the Thames is madness! There are a large number of Sewage Treatment Works that discharge into it, plus it is a busy river with all other questionable discharges into it!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 08/08/2020 23:09

Was there a warning about dangerous currents? We weren't allowed in a big rivers at that age even as strong swimmers, but lakes, large ponds and pools were fine.

mosquitofeast · 08/08/2020 23:10

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Squigglypig2 · 08/08/2020 23:10

The river is basically an estuary in London so the currents are all over the place. I'm very laid back but wouldn't let my child swim in there (or swim there myself).

Thehop · 08/08/2020 23:12

Really dangerous.

BikeRunSki · 08/08/2020 23:12

Did this loads as a child/teen growing up in Central London. I also kayaked from Westminster Boating Base between Chelsea and Vauxhall bridges. And got the bus to Hampstead and swam in Highgate Ponds. I believe I must be half seal!

BingoDingo · 08/08/2020 23:12

Jeez, that's terrifying!

Palavah · 08/08/2020 23:12

That's not a safe place to swim at all. She was putting others in danger too. Also, that bit stinks.

There are places upstream to swim, or the Albert Docks

Mumdiva99 · 08/08/2020 23:13

I once watched someone nearly drown in the Thames by the Southbank. Then their friend jumped into save them and also nealy drowned. The currents are horrendous. I love wild swimming but only where it's safe.

BikeRunSki · 08/08/2020 23:13

^ my dad didn’t drink Prosecco (or anything else) when we went swimming at low tide though.

NothingIsWrong · 08/08/2020 23:14

I swim in the Thames regularly, but in Oxfordshire so prob not the same issues...

Rebelwithallthecause · 08/08/2020 23:14

Lots of people have drowned thinking it’s safe

The tides in London can be surprisingly strong

OhioOhioOhio · 08/08/2020 23:14

You should watched Connected on netflix, second episode. The Thames is full of shit.

SoleBizzz · 08/08/2020 23:19

Full of turd

june2007 · 08/08/2020 23:21

Didn,t DAvid Walliams get sick when swimmin in the thames.?

AbbieFB · 08/08/2020 23:29

Incredibly dangerous. The Thames has a very strong undercurrent.

Ginfizz2 · 08/08/2020 23:33

lljkk

I would have been the Prosecco mum. I have a higher tolerance for risk than you do, OP.

Yes perhaps you do IIjkk, but I’ve been a nurse for many many years and sadly have seen some horrific things.

No, no warning signs, another bystander did go and say something to the mum and she did call the child back but then the child kept going back out.

I’ve been the parent that’s been spoken to before (mum of an ASD young person as well) and figured someone had already said something (didn’t hear the convo) 🙂

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/08/2020 23:35

I've wondered about that bit. I wouldn't swim in it. Far up stream there are lots of places where a paddle or a swim are ok, but round there? I wouldn't.

ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 08/08/2020 23:39

I am guessing you are referring to Gabriel's Pier adjacent to Oxo Tower?

I would never touch the Thames water and especially not in central London with all the nearby raw sewage discharge along the river bank!

Kayaking in central London is okish but occasionally and not often. But again try to have as little Thames water contact as much as practicable. The River Thames will have (more) fish if cleaner.

AdaColeman · 08/08/2020 23:39

Weil’s disease was my first thought reading the OP.

kerfuffling · 08/08/2020 23:41

@AdaColeman

Weil’s disease was my first thought reading the OP.
Mine too.
lljkk · 08/08/2020 23:42

I will try to remember to avoid you in future, mosquitofeast. Shall we call the feeling mutual?

LemonadeAndDaisyChains · 08/08/2020 23:46

Didn,t DAvid Walliams get sick when swimmin in the thames.?

That's the first thing that popped into my head too!
He was really ill from what I remember from seeing it in the news.
All manners of bugs and germs in there, I'm no germophobe but no way would I want my kids swimming in there!

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