Hundreds of swimmers dashed into the freezing waters of Belfast Lough on Christmas Eve, braving the cold for the annual "Santa Splash" charity dip at Helen's Bay in Co Down. The festive fundraiser drew participants decked out in Santa hats, tinsel and elf ears, all raising money for Dementia NI and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
The event kicked off at 11am with carol singing and bell ringing before the swimmers took the plunge. Local fitness coaches Eamon Swail and Calvin Brennan led a warm-up session to prepare participants for the icy waters.
Notable participants
Among those taking part was Agriculture Minister Gillian McCollum, who also serves as a local MLA and Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor. The annual Christmas Eve tradition brings the community together to support two vital charities while marking the festive season.
The Santa Splash has become a fixture in the local calendar, combining charitable giving with seasonal spirit. Participants raced into the cold sea waters of Belfast Lough, creating a colourful spectacle of festive costumes against the winter backdrop.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
