By Stephanie O'Connor






Gail Rickett with some of the youngsters she already teaches at her classes.


A Southport woman who believes she can make children get over their fears of water is looking for children to take part in a learn to swim DVD.

Gail Rickett has been teaching swimming to children from in and around Southport for over 20 years and believes she can cure children of their water phobias through understanding their body language and studying their behaviour.

She said: “I am looking for five children aged between two and five-years-old who are 100% terrified and their parents are at their wit’s end on what to do as I am confident I can help nervous pupils to get over their fear quickly.

"The five children I chose will have a free ten week course and be part of the filming.

"Some of the children I have taught have gone from extremely nervous beginners to swimming full lengths of a public swimming pool in a matter of weeks.”

Some of the children Gail has taught include three year old, super swimmer Oiver Rimmington.

“Oliver is amazing,” said Gail. “In just six lessons he went from a nervous beginner with arm bands on, to swimming full back stroke, thats arms and legs, no armbands and Oliver swam 120 meters, thats almost five full lenghts of most large public swimming pools.

"And Erin Lovegrove at two years old could swim on her own, thats without armbands or a float for 20 meters, which is just a little bit short of one length of most large public pools. At three years old, Erin could swim 300 meters full back stroke, that is 12 full lengths of most large public swimming pools all on her own, with no aids.

“Emiley Allen is one of my outstanding babies from my Mums and Baby Classes and at just one years old she can swim a meter under water from parent to parent. I have a few other babies from my Mums and Baby Classes not far behind Emily.”

For more information you can contact Gail Rickett on 07988442897 or visit the swim school website at www.swim-baby.co.uk.