Ernest keeps in the swim of things

From the archive, first published Friday 29th Dec 2006.

Keen swimmer Ernest Adams is determined to carry on braving the waters - despite accidents that might put most people off for life.

The 60-year-old retired builder had to have his left leg amputated below the knee after a mystery sea creature bit him while he was enjoying a dip off the Spanish coast.

And he lost four toes on his left foot when he was crushed in a separate accident.

On top of his double disability, Mr Adams has diabetes and arthritis and has been helped to cope with it all by the West Yorkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Rawdon.

Now the Baildon man is raising money for the centre which has aided his rehabilitation - by tackling a three-mile sponsored swim. Mr Adams, of Bank View, should certainly be fit enough - as well as sessions at the centre, using its decompression tanks, he visits the gym three times a week and is a regular visitor to Shipley pool.

Before he lost his leg - he still doesn't know what it was that bit him - he had swum across Coniston Water in the Lakes several times.

Mr Adams is planning his sponsored swim challenge at Shipley Pool on Tuesday, January 9, and anyone who wants to support him can pick up sponsored sheets from the pool in Alexander Road after January 1.

He said: "I really enjoy swimming. I've a prosthetic leg for walking and a special one for swimming. I've got one for scuba-diving too but haven't used it yet! That's for the future.

"I go to the therapy centre at Rawdon and use the decompression tanks to help me. The money is to go into their pot to help them stay up and running. They rely on donations but do such a good job. Lots of people use the tanks at different stages of MS and other conditions. It really helps."

Mr Adams is also a supporter of Bradford Council's

b-active campaign which aims to keep residents fit in its leisure centres. He started working-out after his weight zoomed to 20 stone and doctors advised him to shed some. He lost four stone and with help of his regular fitness routine is managing to keep it off.

"I really like my food but knew I had to keep my weight under control. Exercise is one way to do it," he said.

Steve Warner, head of Bradford Council's sport and leisure service, said Ernest was a great example of someone wanting to keep fit and healthy: "Ernest is truly remarkable and it's fantastic to see him so physically active."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk