In At The Deep End | Swimming as an escape from work in a war zone

Swimming as an escape from work in a war zone - with Dr Victoria 'Rosie' Rose

March 10, 2026 / 30:58/E1

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

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