Man swimming across the Suir @ The Bridge

mickmcl09

5.45pm Friday, making my way over the bridge into the City and I saw this guy at the edge of the water on the Ferrybank side of the bridge.
Kitted out in speedos / briefs, a hat and an overcoat.
Rang the Gardai with the description and he told me he was a German, who does it regularly - no need for alarm etc etc.
What's the crack with this fella?

Esel

Rush hour traffic issue, maybe?

justbored

This post has been deleted.

Cabaal

Least he's informed the Gardai about what he's doing so their time is being wasted,

Tubbs4

He is doing it for years and lives by the park. If its the same person he doing it for 7 years now

TheGormog

He's a strung out classical music genius. May have worked in the WIT at some stage.

He's renowned for both his extreme swimming and his naked rampages. Leaves countless bundles of clothes on the marinas, pontoons, etc. which have often been the catalyst for missing person reports and indeed search and rescue ops.

Oft sighted skulking the riverbanks stark bollock naked, searching for said clothes, especially if a strong current has pulled him up/downstream.

So, in summary, a German classical composer who swims in the Suir with his pianist hanging out.

looksee

That is such a great story! Good luck to him, I hope it gives him contentment.

abouttobebanned

When I lived down at harbour view I used to see him all the time. How he didn't emerge covered in nappies and tampons is beyond me.

deisemum

I thought the river's full of rats.

decies

Could this be the new naked Spanish guy!!!!

batm!ke

Anyone see the fool in the grey Alfa Romeo going around Gracedieu this morning talking through a megaphone? Wouldn't mind if I thought he was canvassing for something but no one can make out a word he's saying and all he's doing is starting the neighbourhood dogs barking. The baby is asleep upstairs and if he wakes up yer man is going to get the megaphone up his hole next time he comes in to the estate. :mad:

Green Hornet

Yep, heard him too but couldn't make out what he was saying either!

CardBordWindow

I've often seen him swimming from the marina at the Tower, over to the Atheneum and back. He's been doin it for years!

cocoshovel

He must be some strong swimmer. How anybody gets in there and comes out alive is beyond me

Cabaal

cocoshovel wrote: »

He must be some strong swimmer. How anybody gets in there and comes out alive is beyond me

If people can swim the likes of San Francisco bay you can be sure as hell that people are well able to swim a small river (in comparison) in Waterford

tobey

ah crazygermanguy, hes aways doing it, was living rough behind the topaz on the cork road until the last builders in ireland moved in and dug up his home

shockwave

He usually does his swimming down by the Marina hotel.

Im surprised it hasnt killed him yet, the water in that river is pure mank.

LuckyFinigan

That would be geroge or hans swimmer as some people know him. Think he used to live in one of the warehouses on the docks and would swim over to town ever day. Hes been out around the dunmore road the last while.

Marchandire

TheGormog wrote: »

So, in summary, a German classical composer who swims in the Suir with his pianist hanging out.

Very Good...

wmpdd3

deisemum wrote: »

I thought the river's full of rats.

Really? I used to swim in Fiddown years ago, can't believe it, wouldn't dream of going near the river now.

cocoshovel

deisemum wrote: »

I thought the river's full of rats.

Well, every river in Ireland will have rats. Just as every ditch and hedge in Ireland will too. Its not like they swim around it like fish and in the centre.

THe river is dirty alright, but I think peoples perception of it is far too negtive than what it really is. Of course we have random bits of rubbish floating around it which is nothing out of the norm. But aside from that what kind of pollution is it receiving.
I know the brewery dumps something into it as its visible alot of the time flowing with the current. There are probably a few other facotries in the area that do it too. A lot of people just assume the brown colour of it is all pollution, which is more likely just silt from the strong currents being thrown about.

shockwave

Years ago there was a sewage pipe that would open every morning when the tide was going out, around where the Grattan bar is just look over the railings and you would see it.

Turds, toilet paper, tampons etc could all be plainly seen floating off down the river.

Dont know if its still there now though, probably wouldnt be allowed.

michellie

Ugh surely he could find somewhere cleaner/nicer to swim.

ex_infantry man

michellie wrote: »

Ugh surely he could find somewhere cleaner/nicer to swim.

whats with the link in the word "find" ????

KevIRL

ex_infantry man wrote: »

whats with the link in the word "find" ????

You have some sort of malware on your computer. Seeing no link here.

michellie

KevIRL wrote: »

ex_infantry man wrote: »

whats with the link in the word "find" ????

You have some sort of malware on your computer. Seeing no link here.

Huh ?? Link ??

cocoshovel

Cabaal wrote: »

If people can swim the likes of San Francisco bay you can be sure as hell that people are well able to swim a small river (in comparison) in Waterford

True, but whenever Im walking across the bridge, and look down at where the concrete meets the water and see how strong and forcefull the tide is flowing it comes across as quite frightening, its extremely strong.

Its been mentioned many times over the years and Im not sure how true it is, but its said its one of the fastest flowing rivers in Europe

Denise90

Aw George, I didn't think he was still around! I saw him in Dublin airport about three years ago (yellow water proof jacket and tesco bag in tow) and assumed he was going home or something.. Was pretty random now that I think of it... kind of made my day!

Potential-Monke

He's been gone for a while, must be back. Harmless lad, it's his way of praying allegedly, thanking God for the river in which to swim. He does swim up by the Tower side aswell. Used to be a professor in WIT years ago, according to a security guard who works there.

wet-paint

More power to him.

americanboi

yeah that's george alright, harmless guy really. used to be down the tracks with us years ago. we got hours of amusement of him trying to dig a hole in the tracks, he told us god had asked him to go under the train. great fun when the train came and stopped and got out to him. must be a strong swimmer to get across that river. i'v swam in it myself and it's difficult. always see him by topaz picking up rubbish.

Finnbar01

cocoshovel wrote: »

True, but whenever Im walking across the bridge, and look down at where the concrete meets the water and see how strong and forcefull the tide is flowing it comes across as quite frightening, its extremely strong.

Its been mentioned many times over the years and Im not sure how true it is, but its said its one of the fastest flowing rivers in Europe

I knew someone from the boat club who told me too that it was one of the fastest flowing rivers in Europe.

It's also quite deep, not sure how deep it is though.

sonyvision

Extremely fast, seen it flowing at 4/5 knots before going out river

JupiterKid

That fact that he often swims in the nip is not surprising given that he's German. Germans love to swim and sunbathe au naturel. I swim in the nip when I get the chance as well. It's very liberating.

But is the Suir really that badly polluted?:( Does raw sewage still flow into the river? I would really hope that in 2012 that would not be the case.

calvin_zola

Finnbar01 wrote: »

I knew someone from the boat club who told me too that it was one of the fastest flowing rivers in Europe.

It's also quite deep, not sure how deep it is though.

yeah ths is true, i was in the rowing club for a few years and we couldnt have regattas on the suir and had to have them in Belle lake was for this reason. other rowing clubs wouldnt be used to it or something

lewisdhead

This man has many names it appears. I know him as Walter (w=v) from when he thought music in the WIT. He occasionally still turns up here and washes himself in the sinks in the toilets. When he was teaching here, he thought mostky kids and often he would be drying his washing that he had done earlier in the toilet sinks on the radiators.

abouttobebanned

Apparently he invented some kind of amazing "solution" for cleaning engines and BMW were in a bidding war with some other big car companies to purchase ownership of it. Unfortunately, the formula for the solution was stolen from his lodgings one night and it miraculously ended up in a certain car manufacturer's hands. He spent 3 years trying to prove that he invented the solution. It was during this time that he met Amelia Fasth who was to be his lover, but also assist him in proving that he was the inventor of the miracle cleaning solution. After 3 years, and numerous court battles it became clear that he was fighting a losing battle. When he lost his final case on October 15th 1992 Amelia left him. He was now broke and severely disillusioned.

He moved to the UK at the end of 92, after he realised that the solution was only currently protected by German law and statutes. When he got to the UK he began to shop his solution around to some popular manufacturers. However, after a tip off to the large German company..they quickly made their patent worldwide and intimidated him out of the UK. By August 93 he was living in Dublin where, upon telling his story to some proffessors in trinity, he talked himself into a relief position, lecturing young science students.

It was during this time that he met a young student called Claire Swail. They had a whirlwind affair which reignited Walter's love for science. He began to work on new formulas...new ideas. Every morning he would go to the gym with Claire and they would share a 6am swim. This is when his best ideas would come to him.

Soon, Walter had a full time lecturing role and Claire was no longer a student. She was also pregnant with their first child. Unfortunately, due to complications, Claire lost the baby during the delivery. She never recovered from this mentally and shunned Walter, telling him that she couldn't face seeing his face anymore.

He left Dublin and travelled to Waterford where he applied, and successfully received a teaching position. At this point in Waterford there were no gyms open to him at 6am so he would take to swimming in the rivers...hoping that Claire, and that one magnificent idea, would one day come back to him.

jayteecork

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Apparently he invented some kind of amazing "solution" for cleaning engines and BMW were in a bidding war with some other big car companies to purchase ownership of it. Unfortunately, the formula for the solution was stolen from his lodgings one night and it miraculously ended up in a certain car manufacturer's hands. He spent 3 years trying to prove that he invented the solution. It was during this time that he met Amelia Fasth who was to be his lover, but also assist him in proving that he was the inventor of the miracle cleaning solution. After 3 years, and numerous court battles it became clear that he was fighting a losing battle. When he lost his final case on October 15th 1992 Amelia left him. He was now broke and severely disillusioned.

He moved to the UK at the end of 92, after he realised that the solution was only currently protected by German law and statutes. When he got to the UK he began to shop his solution around to some popular manufacturers. However, after a tip off to the large German company..they quickly made their patent worldwide and intimidated him out of the UK. By August 93 he was living in Dublin where, upon telling his story to some proffessors in trinity, he talked himself into a relief position, lecturing young science students.

It was during this time that he met a young student called Claire Swail. They had a whirlwind affair which reignited Walter's love for science. He began to work on new formulas...new ideas. Every morning he would go to the gym with Claire and they would share a 6am swim. This is when his best ideas would come to him.

Soon, Walter had a full time lecturing role and Claire was no longer a student. She was also pregnant with their first child. Unfortunately, due to complications, Claire lost the baby during the delivery. She never recovered from this mentally and shunned Walter, telling him that she couldn't face seeing his face anymore.

He left Dublin and travelled to Waterford where he applied, and successfully received a teaching position. At this point in Waterford there were no gyms open to him at 6am so he would take to swimming in the rivers...hoping that Claire, and that one magnificent idea, would one day come back to him.

:rolleyes:

lewisdhead

abouttobebanned wrote: »

Apparently he invented some kind of amazing "solution" for cleaning engines and BMW were in a bidding war with some other big car companies to purchase ownership of it. Unfortunately, the formula for the solution was stolen from his lodgings one night and it miraculously ended up in a certain car manufacturer's hands. He spent 3 years trying to prove that he invented the solution. It was during this time that he met Amelia Fasth who was to be his lover, but also assist him in proving that he was the inventor of the miracle cleaning solution. After 3 years, and numerous court battles it became clear that he was fighting a losing battle. When he lost his final case on October 15th 1992 Amelia left him. He was now broke and severely disillusioned.

He moved to the UK at the end of 92, after he realised that the solution was only currently protected by German law and statutes. When he got to the UK he began to shop his solution around to some popular manufacturers. However, after a tip off to the large German company..they quickly made their patent worldwide and intimidated him out of the UK. By August 93 he was living in Dublin where, upon telling his story to some proffessors in trinity, he talked himself into a relief position, lecturing young science students.

It was during this time that he met a young student called Claire Swail. They had a whirlwind affair which reignited Walter's love for science. He began to work on new formulas...new ideas. Every morning he would go to the gym with Claire and they would share a 6am swim. This is when his best ideas would come to him.

Soon, Walter had a full time lecturing role and Claire was no longer a student. She was also pregnant with their first child. Unfortunately, due to complications, Claire lost the baby during the delivery. She never recovered from this mentally and shunned Walter, telling him that she couldn't face seeing his face anymore.

He left Dublin and travelled to Waterford where he applied, and successfully received a teaching position. At this point in Waterford there were no gyms open to him at 6am so he would take to swimming in the rivers...hoping that Claire, and that one magnificent idea, would one day come back to him.

Brilliant story, but are you sure his name is Walter???

banjacksed

lewisdhead wrote: »

Brilliant story, but are you sure his name is Walter???

Ah lads after that story i wouldnt know what to believe. :cool:

Very gud thou, hahahahahahahah:D

merlante

JupiterKid wrote: »

But is the Suir really that badly polluted?:( Does raw sewage still flow into the river? I would really hope that in 2012 that would not be the case.

I doubt it to be honest. There is a sewage treatment plant and a slew of EU laws about what can be put into a river. If John's river is anything to go by, there is a lot more life in it than a few years ago. Plus, what heavy industry is left in Waterford that might be dumping on the sly? (Although there are a large number of towns on the river.)

wmpdd3

Can't fund out, but I remember being told that the river id 70ft deep under the bridge. ie there was a 70 foot deep coferdam made to facilitate piling.

ted1

Why would you call the guards? He is dressed for swimming and beside the water? What exactly did you think was happening?

tom traubert

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Can't fund out, but I remember being told that the river id 70ft deep under the bridge. ie there was a 70 foot deep coferdam made to facilitate piling.

That was probably to hit a solid base. It's been a decade or so, but I remember sounding depths of either 14 metres or 17 metres at the bridge during a diving operation. It would have been at slack water, ie, either high or low tide; I can't remember which.

cocoshovel

ted1 wrote: »

Why would you call the guards? He is dressed for swimming and beside the water? What exactly did you think was happening?

So many people commit suicide off that bridge, and I certainly wouldn't expect to see a person casually swimming in there so it would give me a shock. Although, now I know about it so if I ever do see someone in there I double check to see whats happening.

cocoshovel

tom traubert wrote: »

That was probably to hit a solid base. It's been a decade or so, but I remember sounding depths of either 14 metres or 17 metres at the bridge during a diving operation. It would have been at slack water, ie, either high or low tide; I can't remember which.

Diving in the river? Jaysus that sort of thing terrifies me. The depth and darkness of the water is a huge fear of mine, and what possibly lurks down there! (shopping trolley monsters). do tell us more

ted1

cocoshovel wrote: »

ted1 wrote: »

Why would you call the guards? He is dressed for swimming and beside the water? What exactly did you think was happening?

So many people commit suicide off that bridge, and I certainly wouldn't expect to see a person casually swimming in there so it would give me a shock. Although, now I know about it so if I ever do see someone in there I double check to see whats happening.

Would a person commiting suicide wear swimming clothes?

cocoshovel

ted1 wrote: »

Would a person commiting suicide wear swimming clothes?

I dont really take immediate note of what a person would be wearing when floating in a river. Swimming clothes, what I assume would be a wetsuit or such could easily look similar to normal clothes from a distance.

blankAs

thats basicly the story he told me some years ago when he was living in tramore. he was another one of the heads that just arrived in tramore and stayed for a while, the place is full of them! however there was a part of the story, that he had a gf the drowned in front of him and he feared the water for years but hes over the fear now and he swims in the most dangerous spots to prove to himself he can and theres nothing to be afraid of. he ust to pop into the piano in the grand hotel every so often and played amazingly, a pure genius on the piano, he also composes he own pieces. think there is more to this man than we will ever know.