Gijón employee swims to work to 'guarantee social distancing'

 

IF YOU DON'T have access to a car or bike, getting to work could mean facing pavement crowds or packed public transport every day, with all the risks that these entail during a pandemic – and, conscious of this, Pablo Pedraz from Gijón (Asturias) has found another way of making sure nobody gets within two metres of him on his commute.

He doesn't even need to wear a mask.

Pablo, 46, works at Miele, an electrical appliances chain, on Gijón's C/ Torcuato Fernández-Miranda, two kilometres from where he lives – but it takes him just over an hour to get there.

He swims from his seafront home to Staircase 15 (pictured) on San Lorenzo beach in a neoprene diving suit every morning, and then swims home again at night.

“I really think this is the way of maintaining the social distancing that's so necessary right now,” says Pablo.

“And while I'm at it, I can combine commuting with exercise.”

His dad waits for him at the steps every morning, but even though he knows his son is a strong swimmer, he does not approve of him tackling the open sea across the bay on his own.

Pablo, though, intends to carry on with his unusual form of transport even after the pandemic is over, provided the weather and sea conditions allow it.

“There are more ways than one of getting around,” Pablo says.

“Swimming makes you feel free and in contact with nature, and makes me happy.”

Indeed, what better mindset for starting work every morning, especially in a customer-facing job?

 

Photograph: Flickr