STAFF at a Witney care home helped an 82-year-old resident with Parkinson’s Disease get swimming again after a six-year break from the hobby.

The team from Newland House care home struggled to keep up with Dennis Thompson when they took him out for a swim last month.

The home is now preparing to launch a weekly swimming group as part of its efforts to get residents out and active in the community.

Mr Thompson, who is originally from London but spent time living in Gibraltar, was an avid sea swimmer as a younger man. Inspired by the recent Olympic Games, and encouraged by staff at the home, he took to Windrush Leisure Centre on Friday, September 23.

Despite a few nerves, Mr Thompson, who used to do general maintenance work at RAF Brize Norton, dived straight into the pool and stunned senior carer Sue Walker and handyman Steve Winterbourne by completing a length as though no time had passed at all.

He said: “I used to spend nearly every day in the water, but I hadn’t been swimming at all since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I didn’t even know if I could swim or not, as I can’t really walk at all with my condition.

“When you’re in a home you do spend a lot of time sitting around and watching television, so it’s nice to get out and do an activity. I enjoyed it very much.

“I suppose it was the Olympic Games that inspired me, and I’ve had a lot of encouragement from the home. I’m really keen to get a swimming group started up.”

New manager Anna Clews said that the boost in Mr Thompson’s mood had spread to the other residents, and now about four others want to get involved in swimming too.

She said: “I found out that he loved swimming but hadn’t been out for years so I said ‘shall we give it a go?’ The next thing I knew he was ordering trunks and ready to go.

“He went over to the side of the pool and said he was going to dive in. All of a sudden: splash. He was off like a torpedo. It’s absolutely fantastic.

“It’s really improved his mood and we’re like one big family here, so when something good happens like this we all feel the benefits.

“I believe very strongly, and the company does to, that these people are here to live their lives. Whether it’s swimming or fishing or pampering sessions – I just want to do what the residents want. And the staff are amazing in their willingness to get involved.”

Mr Thompson’s goals do not end with swimming. He has informed Mrs Clews that he now wants to take on wing walking and skydiving.

Newland House, run by Hartford Care, has a total of 28 residents.