Wild swimming makes me feel alive says man, 90

David Martin bought his first wetsuit when he was 89 and has not looked back since

A man has celebrated his 90th birthday by taking the plunge in a lake in Leicestershire.

David Martin took up cold water swimming last year by joining the Swim Six Hills club, based near Melton Mowbray.

Club members gathered to mark his birthday on Monday.

"It makes you feel great and makes me want to live another 10 years," said David, from Markfield.

He added swimming in the open water had helped him maintain his strength and stamina.

Swimmers at David's club surprised him with a cake and balloons

David said he had always kept fit and healthy but "not through vitamins or the gym - I prefer to get outside and have a pint of Guinness and a cheese cob".

When he learned his son Andrew Martin and partner Fiona Towlson had taken up cold water swimming last year, he ordered himself a wetsuit off the internet.

Fiona, 56, said: "He turned up with his wetsuit and asked 'can I go with you?'

"David is fiercely independent and he will give anything a go, absolutely anything, you have to be very careful what you say because he will say 'yes I'll come and do that' - he's full of life."

Fiona Towlson was shocked when her father-in-law bought a wetsuit and asked if he could come along

Claire Adam, 62, swim manager at Swim Six Hills, said: "I think he's the oldest swimmer we've ever had. He's so sociable, everyone looks out for him."

David said having built up to swimming 550m (1,084ft) in the open water, he would like to encourage more older people, especially those over 90, to embrace the hobby's health benefits.

"It depends how healthy you are of course, but it just makes you feel great, makes you feel alive, makes you want to live another 10 years," he said.

The British Heart Foundation says cold water swimming can improve blood pressure and fat levels in the blood when practised regularly by those in good general health.

However, it advises people with heart conditions to consider risks and discuss them with medical professionals before they start.