Father-of-five, 59, drowned in ‘choppy’ sea 30ft from the shore after going cold water swimming

A father-of-five drowned in the ‘choppy’ sea after swimming in cold water and ‘freezing’ just 30ft from shore, an inquest has found.

Financial trader Ed Matts, 59, was a member of Bluetits Chill Swimmers, a British community of cold-water swimmers.

He went to his local beach in West Bay, Dorset, at 7am on April 11 and entered the water – against the advice of other swimmers who had just got out.

Mr Matts was told the water, which would have been 9C, was too choppy and rough, but the father said he just wanted a “quick dip”.

Ed Matts, a 59-year-old father of five who worked as a financial trader and also once ran for MP, drowned in the “choppy” sea after going for a swim in cold water despite being advised not to do so

Within minutes he was in trouble and “frozen” in the water just 30 feet from shore.

Two colleagues from the Bridport Bluetits swam towards Mr Matts. The couple came within reach of him, but he was physically unable to raise his arms to be rescued.

Forced to reboard due to cold and exhaustion, the two friends watched helplessly as Mr Matts drifted out to sea “as if all the lights had gone out”.

The Coast Guard retrieved Mr Matts, who was unresponsive, from the sea about an hour later but was pronounced dead at the scene in the back of an ambulance. A post-mortem confirmed that Mr Matts had died of drowning.

Mr Matts went swimming at his local West Bay beach in Dorset on April 11 where he froze in the water and drowned. Cold water swimming is considered the latest health trend in the UK

The Bournemouth inquest found that Mr Matts had just returned to the UK from a three-week holiday in Lanzarote.

His son Oliver suggested that the trip may have reduced his father’s tolerance for the extreme temperatures.

Mr Matts, who lived in Bridport, ran a successful financial trading business called Matrix Markets Ltd.

He was interested in politics and stood as a Conservative candidate for Dorset South in the 2005 general election. He was defeated by Labor’s Jim Knight.

Mr Matts, who lived in Bridport, ran a successful financial trading business called Matrix Markets Ltd

The father was described as an active person who swam every day.

dr Michelle James, a member of the Bridport Bluetits, said the East Pier area in West Bay was used by sea swimmers on a daily basis, “rain or shine”.

dr James said: “I’ve known Ed for a year now and he usually comes down for a swim a little later than us.

“That day we had decided to turn back earlier as there was an unusual current in the water and it was getting choppy.

“We were drying off when Ed arrived – I told him the sea was a bit choppy. Ed said he was just going to take a quick bath.

“He’s always had an unusual style, but it was clear something was wrong when he tried to return to shore.”

dr James said they asked Mr Matts if he was okay and he yelled back: “Not really no.”

dr James ran to fetch a buoy to try and drag him back to shore, but by the time she carried it back Mr Matts had drifted about 300 yards away.

She added: “We didn’t see him fighting in the water or thrashing about. It’s like suddenly the lights go out. He froze, it was so upsetting to see.’

dr James said when one of the two would-be rescuers, Alan Bruce, returned to shore, he was shivering from the cold.

The Coast Guard retrieved Mr Matts, who was unresponsive, from the sea about an hour later but was pronounced dead at the scene in the back of an ambulance

She said: “When Alan came ashore we were worried about him too because he was shivering from the cold.

“Once Ed started drifting away, all we could do was try to keep an eye on him.”

Noting a verdict on a mishap, Richard Middleton, Dorset’s assistant coroner, said: “Mr Matts was an experienced swimmer and was known to swim regularly in open water.

“His son has told me that a trip to Lanzarote might have provided a contrast in sea temperatures after saying that from what I’ve heard he was a regular swimmer at West Bay.

A post-mortem confirmed that Mr Matts died of drowning. dr Michelle James, a member of the Bridport Bluetits, said she told Mr Matts the sea was a bit “choppy” before he went in. Pictured: early morning swimmers at West Bay in Dorset

“On April 11, Mr. Matts went into the sea as normal and after a relatively short period of time he began to have difficulties.”

Mr Middleton said it is up to individual open water swimmers to assess the risks of swimming in the sea.

He added: “When Mr Matts went in the water he was given advice on those conditions.

“It is up to each individual to assess the risks they are taking with each swim in the water.

On April 11, Mr. Matts went into the sea as usual, but after a short time he had difficulties and was cold

“His fellow swimmers assessed the risks and decided to stop their swim sessions. So I’ve come to the conclusion that I have a mishap.’

Cold water swimming is the latest health trend in the UK.

Short periods of time in cold water are known to provide a variety of health benefits such as: B. strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure and producing a surge of endorphin.

However, immersion in cold water for even half an hour can cause hyperthermia as the body quickly loses heat.