Stotfold firefighter spends 10 minutes a day in garden pond to assist battle to beat dementia

A Stotfold firefighter who has spent 10 minutes a day throughout December immersed in his fishpond alongside an albino sturgeon named Nicola has raised nearly £7,300 for Dementia UK.
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Keith Digby, 54, first took the plunge after reading of the health benefits of cold water immersion, including staving off depression and dementia.

Keith’s mum Jan, 77, has lived with dementia since her mid 60s and has been in a care home in Arlesey for the past four years. She no longer recognises her son and Keith could not see his mum at Christmas because of tier 4 restrictions.

He said: “I have seen the devastating effects of dementia first hand with my dear mum suffering daily. I did get to visit a couple of times in November and the start of December for 15 minutes in an outbuilding with heating and a plastic screen, but she just fell asleep both times after a couple of minutes.

Keith with Nicola the sturgeonKeith with Nicola the sturgeon
Keith with Nicola the sturgeon

“The home’s carers are fantastic and my daughter Meg works there part-time. They sent me a lovely photo on Christmas Day.

“Each day in December, I have spent a minimum of 10 minutes submerged in our fishpond in just my boxer shorts, come rain, shine, wind, ice or snow.”

As his charity efforts took off, friends, family members and fellow firefighters started joining him in the water, alongside about 30 fish.

Keith’s wife Sian, a nurse, wrote a touching poem to highlight the effects dementia has on sufferers and their families.

Keith and fellow firefighter Barry Mellor in the pondKeith and fellow firefighter Barry Mellor in the pond
Keith and fellow firefighter Barry Mellor in the pond

She wrote: “You may feel anxiety and not know why.

“At the drop of a hat, you’ll break down and cry.

‘Your face is familiar but I don’t know your name.

“I once had a son who looked just the same.’ ”

Keiths mum Jan on Christmas DayKeiths mum Jan on Christmas Day
Keiths mum Jan on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, Keith and Sian celebrated by having a double dip, swimming in a nearby river in the morning and then submerging themselves in the pond in the afternoon

Some of Keith’s dips have even had to take place at night after a long shift at work in Borehamwood.