Swimming with the Viking of Skye
By Richard Waters
Foreword by Christian Lewis
27 February 2025
£17.99
Swimming with the Viking of Skye is a true story by Richard Waters about overcoming fear, finding confidence and hope. It is the tale one man’s journey to cold water swimming, and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
At the age of 41, Rich Waters received a diagnosis that sent shockwaves through his world: early-onset Parkinson’s. But fate had more in store for him; shortly after this revelation, he learned that his young daughter, too, was grappling with a degenerative condition.
Life, once familiar and predictable, had been upended, and Rich was forced to confront the fragility of existence in a way he had never imagined. Yet, it was in this moment of crisis that he discovered an unyielding resolve to find purpose and meaning.
Rich chose to defy the limitations of his diagnosis. Determined to make every second count, he began a courageous journey that would lead him to the unlikeliest of places: the icy, unforgiving waters of the Isle of Skye.
Cold water swimming became his lifeline – a radical source of fulfilment and a wellspring of resilience. Plunging into the frigid depths, Rich found a deep connection with the natural world. The sensation of icy waters on his skin mirrored the challenges he faced in his life, and each swim was a testament to his indomitable spirit.
Guided by Matt Rhodes, The Viking of Skye, Rich discovered that the biting cold, the relentless waves and the untamed currents were more than just physical challenges: they were a metaphor for the unpredictability of life itself. In those waters, he learned to surrender control, to accept the ebb and flow of existence, and to find beauty in the chaos.
This, then, is a story of one man’s battle against the relentless march of disease, a father’s unwavering commitment to his daughter and a testament to the healing power of nature.
Through the pages of this moving memoir, you will find inspiration to confront your own challenges, a renewed appreciation for the beauty of the natural world and a profound belief in the resilience of the human heart and the transformative power of courage, love and the unyielding spirit that resides within us all.
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