A Good Samaritan has stepped in to do a testing charity swim after his wife's friend had to pull out due to back problems.

Hairdresser Margaret Dyer, of Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, was due to join more than 100 swimmers setting off from Teignmouth Yacht Club on Sunday for the Rowcroft Wild Swim.

She had collected £200 in sponsorship and trained for the one-mile course in the swimming pool. But when she tried swimming in the sea last weekend she had a horrible shock.

She hadn't taken into account the effect the bouyant sea water would have on her back.

'The pain was excruciating, I was crying,' she said.

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