Sir, – Further to “Sea swimmers alerted to risk of lung condition from cold water” (News, January 9th), another unusual condition that affects swimmers has the grand title of transient global amnesia (TGA).
I emerged from a cold swim in Dog’s Bay, Connemara, in September last year and told my wife that I had no idea where I was or how I got there. My memory of the previous week was woolly but recovered in 24 hours.
The neurologist in Galway said that, although uncommon, TGA was on the increase due to more people doing open water swimming. I still can’t remember the 15-minute swim itself. Thankfully my wife said we should turn around and head to shore.
Otherwise I would be freestyling into New York just around now. – Yours, etc,
PAUL CONNOLLY ,
Cavan.