I love the sea but have always been very wary of it.

I love Watergate Bay a mile outside Newquay and there’s been many times that I’ve body boarded there during October, November and January, often on stormy days with not another soul on the beach or in the water.

I’ve used this bay for 45 years and I know it and it’s tides and riptides like the back of my hand, I know my limitations and tailor my boarding to each day’s conditions.

There’s not a single other bay I would use, especially on my own.

All of this said, if I got cramp etc I could be in as much trouble as anyone but I’m hyper alert the whole time.

Like yourself, I’m constantly aghast at the lack of awareness of people around water and the way parents are so stupid around water in the way they fail to police their kids.