In At The Deep End

In this debut episode of In At The Deep End, host and swim coach Salim Ahmed welcomes his first guest, Dr Victoria Rose - or 'Rosie' as he knows her - a consultant plastic surgeon whose life is defined by two remarkable worlds: the operating theatres of London hospitals and the war-torn hospitals of Gaza.
Rosie shares her journey from dedicated runner to passionate swimmer, how a serious knee injury changed everything and why swimming has become a lifeline - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally - as she processes the harrowing work of treating children with blast, burn, and bullet injuries in one of the world's most dangerous conflict zones.
Key themes in this episode:
What plastic surgery really involves and why it has such an unfair reputation
The IDEALS charity and its decades of work supporting surgeons in conflict zones
Life in Gaza before and after October 2023 - the contrast between restaurants and rubble
The friendship and responsibility that drives humanitarian volunteers back into danger
The physiological magic of cold water and the body's response to immersion
Swimming as community, fitness and mental health support
Open-water swimming at Shepperton Lake, and the eureka moment
Swimming for body, mind and soul: resilience, mindfulness and showing up

Useful Links

Swimming & Open Water
Shepperton Lake — open-water venue mentioned in the episode
Swim England — Find a Club — find a Masters club near you
British Masters Swimming
Outdoor Swimming Society — open-water locations and resources
Swim with Salim
SwimLab - Learn to swim with Salim
Organisations Mentioned
IDEALS Charity — supporting surgeons in conflict zones

Dr Victoria Rose
Follow Rosie on Instagram

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...
Email us: [email protected]
Use the get in touch form HERE - https://inatthedeepend.transistor.fm/be-a-part-of-the-show
Send us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/InAtTheDeepEnd

Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

Welcome to In at the Deep End, a new podcast hosted by swim coach Salim Ahmed.
In this trailer you'll get a glimpse into the kinds of stories featured on the show: honest conversations with people whose lives have been shaped by swimming in ways that go far beyond the pool. Stories about resilience, identity, loss, ambition and the moments when the water became a place to think, heal, push on or start again.
If swimming has ever meant more to you than just lengths and times, this is where it begins.

Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...
Email us: [email protected]
Use the get in touch form HERE - https://inatthedeepend.transistor.fm/be-a-part-of-the-show
Send us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/InAtTheDeepEnd

Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk