Cold water swimming, hypothermia and passing out.

At what point are you meant to blank out from swimming in Cold Water? Interested in commentary and opinions from persons who have knowledge in this area and/or hyperthermia and etc. Interested in the physiology aspect of this.

I went yesterday morning for a swim in cold ocean water ( an Ocean pool) which was measured to be at 16C/60F. The outside weather was drizzly and around 18C/64F. The immediate sensation was that I felt pin pricks on my skin followed by a burning sensation that inturn made me start to feel warm eventhough it was freezing. I swam for approximately 5-10 and then got out.

I was advised by my GP that the biggest risk of swimming in cold water is blanking out from the shock the body experiences and hence the possibility of drowning. At no time did I feel like I was going to blank out while in the water and in actual fact I felt quite invigorated! It is only when I got out of that water that I started feeling a little faint and tried to pull myself and mind together so I wouldn't end up in a pile on the ground or do myself damage by falling awkwardly. I did have a hot shower immediately afterwards however I continued to shiver and feel faint for an additional 10-15miutes afterwards.

Additional background to my story:
i)\tPrevious to jumping in I did do a 11km/7mile run so I was already partly exhausted.
ii)\tAlthough I have done this routine before without feeling faint, this was the first time in 6 weeks I have done this. I have just come back a week ago from sunny hot Europe where I indulged in large amounts of Beer and food and I have no doubt I may have lost significant fitness and put some weight on.

I am also interested in any advice in terms of what one can ingest or drink in such a situation where they may be on the brink of passing out/and or hypothermia. A hot sweet sugary beverage like tea perhaps??? What does the mind need so it doesen't shut down on you?

Thanks

New Scientist ran an article a while ago relating to cold water swimming

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...e-ice-man.html

Arcticle requires registration, but you might be able to find a copy of the mag somewhere.

Originally Posted by Star

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Additional background to my story:
i)\tPrevious to jumping in I did do a 11km/7mile run so I was already partly exhausted.

Don't know about the physiology, but I imagine that the contrast between warming your body from a 7 mile run and then jumping into the cold could be terrible, forget about exhaustion.