'Sea swimming brought me back from rock bottom'

Katie Wotton said sea swimming "changed her life"

A woman who discovered her love for sea swimming during lockdown said it brought her "back from rock bottom".

Katie Wotton, 53, from Murton in County Durham suffered from depression and several illnesses when she was encouraged to try sea swimming by a friend, and said it "changed her life".

Now, Ms Wotton's story has been turned into a short animated film which has been screened at film festivals around the world.

Recently it won Best Short Film at the London Mountain Film Festival and was longlisted for a BAFTA.

Ms Wotton started gaining popularity on social media after she posted a photo of herself standing in a bikini and asked people not to be cruel.

"I thought I was going to get negativity back," she said.

"But I got this burst of thousands of likes and comments and shares. It was bonkers."

Plunge was longlisted for the BAFTA for Best Short Animation

Ellie Land, an animator at Tyke Films, saw the post and asked if she could make a film about her and Ms Wotton did not hesitate.

Ms Wotton still suffers from chronic asthma, arthritis and lipedema, said when she gets into the water it "feels like all of that goes away".

"Every time I go into that water, I just light up," she said.

"You can see it in my eyes and I'm under the water, ducking and diving, and I'm at my happiest."

Plunge is part of the Kendal Mountain 2025 UK Tour which is currently travelling the UK.

"When I go in my swimmers, I'm at home and I feel easy. It was the first time I felt accepted for being just who I am," Ms Wotton said.

Ms Wotton thought she would receive negativity when she posted a photo of herself on social media