Swimming is much more than a sport. It is a life skill that can save precious human lives. It keeps the body healthy, builds confidence, and teaches you how to stay safe in water. In a country like India, where many people live near rivers, lakes, ponds, and the sea, learning how to swim is very important.
Unfortunately, many people still do not know how to swim. Every year, thousands of precious human lives are lost due to drowning. Many of these deaths can be prevented if people learn basic swimming and water safety skills. That is why awareness about swimming is so important for everyone.
On 15 June 2025, Kerala witnessed an inspiring event that carried this important message in a unique way. Twenty-three girls from Ernakulam District achieved an extraordinary feat by swimming one kilometre across the Periyar River with both their hands and legs tied behind their backs. Their achievement was not just about breaking a record. It was about spreading awareness and encouraging everyone to learn swimming as a life-saving skill.
The event was organised by Valassery River Swimming Club, Aluva, under the guidance of Mr Saji Valassery, a well-known swimming trainer and water safety advocate. The swimming attempt started at 8:50 am from Manappuram Mamdapam Kadavu and ended at 9:30 am after all the participants successfully crossed the river.
This remarkable effort earned recognition from both the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records for the Maximum Girls to Swim with Hands and Legs Tied.
Initially, the idea of swimming with tied hands and legs may sound impossible. However, the participants were not taking unnecessary risks. They had undergone several weeks of careful training under the supervision of experienced instructors. They learned a special survival technique that uses shoulder movement, body balance, and controlled breathing to float and move through the water.
The event was conducted with complete safety arrangements. Rescue boats accompanied the swimmers throughout the journey. Lifeguards remained alert at every stage, while medical teams stood ready to provide immediate assistance if required. Every detail was planned carefully to ensure that the participants completed the challenge safely.
Several local leaders and public representatives also came to encourage the swimmers. Hundreds of people gathered along the banks of the Periyar River to witness the event. The achievement was also broadcast live on Malayalam television channels Asianet News and 24×7 News, allowing thousands more to watch this inspiring event.
The choice of the Periyar River for the attempt made the challenge even more meaningful. The Periyar is Kerala’s longest river and is known for its depth and changing currents. Swimming across it requires skill, discipline, and confidence. Yet the participants, whose ages ranged from just eight years to thirty-six years, completed the challenge with remarkable determination.
Watching all 23 girls swim together across the river created a powerful image. Even with their hands and legs tied, they remained calm, balanced, and focused. Their teamwork and confidence showed what proper training and preparation can achieve in life.
According to Mr Saji Valassery, the event was never meant to encourage dangerous stunts. Instead, it was meant to teach an important lesson.
He explained that if people learn the correct techniques for floating and staying calm in water, they can greatly improve their chances of survival during emergencies. His message was simple but powerful – everyone should learn swimming because no one should lose his/her life to drowning.
Mr Valassery has dedicated the last 16 years to promoting water safety. During this period, he has trained more than 15,000 people freely. His dream is to make swimming education available to everyone and to create communities where people are prepared to stay safe around water.
His work shows that making a difference does not always require expensive equipment or large amounts of money. Sometimes, one committed person with a clear purpose can inspire thousands of others.
The need for such awareness is greater than ever today. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 3,00,000 people lose their lives to drowning every year around the world. Many of these victims are children and young adults.
Kerala, with more than 600 kilometres of coastline, along with its rivers, canals, lakes, and backwaters, is especially vulnerable to drowning accidents. Despite living close to water, many people there still do not know how to swim. This makes swimming education not just useful but essential for everyone.
The record created by these 23 girls sends a strong message that swimming should become a basic life skill taught to all from an early age. Just as children learn to read, write, and ride a bicycle, they should also learn how to swim and stay safe in water.
As the girls finally reached the opposite bank of the Periyar River, loud applause filled the air. Their families, officials, trainers, and spectators celebrated their success with pride. The achievement was not only a record-breaking moment but also a reminder of the power of courage, discipline, and teamwork.
These young swimmers proved that determination can overcome fear. More importantly, they reminded everyone that water should not always be seen as something to fear. With proper knowledge, training, and practice, water becomes something we can safely enjoy and play.
Their achievement will be remembered not only because they entered the prestigious record books but because they carried an important message across the river – a message that can save precious human lives.
Every child, every parent, and every human being can learn from this inspiring event. Swimming is not just another activity. It is a skill that builds confidence, improves health, and most importantly, protects precious lives.
The inspiring record journey of these 23 girls teaches us that real records are not measured only by distance or difficulty. They are measured by the positive change they bring to society. By promoting swimming and water safety, they have inspired countless other people to take the first step toward learning a skill that could one day save their own life – or someone else’s also.
How To Set a Swimming Record?
If you or your institution has achieved a swimming milestone that deserves national recognition, you simply have to follow the following steps:
Find your swimming talent: Discover what kind of swimming talent you have that would help you set a record.
Gather Evidence: Provide video evidence, photographs, and witness testimonials to support your claim.
Make It Official: Submit the Record Application Form and take your place among India Book of Records’ most remarkable swimming records.
Let the world know your talent. Apply today at India Book of Records!
