Loony Dook: Firth of Forth New Year's Day dip cancelled over lack of crowd safety measures

The annual Loony Dook, which draws hundreds of fancy-dress swimmers and spectators to Queensferry each January 1, will not take place this year following a decision by community organiser Tony Pirouet.

Mr Pirouet, who stepped in to save the freezing dip in 2023 despite undergoing a hip replacement, explained that the sheer scale of the gathering has outgrown the current setup.

In a statement, he said: “Due to its previous success, history is repeating itself. I now honestly feel the dook is becoming a safety issue due to its popularity and without safety measures being put in place, ie road closures, safety fencing and marshalls.

“I feel it would be totally irresponsible of me, and would feel so bad if there were any injuries to anyone.”

As things stand, the 2027 event won’t be going ahead, but there is hope that it will return the following year. Within hours of Mr Pirouet’s announcement, he revealed that, following a chat “with a mystery man”, the Loony Dook will be back in 2028.

The cold-water tradition originated in 1987 as a light-hearted bet between friends Andy Kerr and Jim Kilcullen looking to shake off Hogmanay hangovers. Over the ensuing 40 years, it evolved into a renowned charity spectacle, going ahead every January with only a brief pause during the pandemic.

Edinburgh festival organisers Unique Events oversaw the swim from 2009 until Mr Pirouet revived it under community leadership in 2023. Operating without external funding, he relied on volunteer assistance to keep the dip alive.

In his farewell message, Mr Pirouet praised the “amazing” volunteers who rallied around the event, highlighting medical teams, soap providers, piper Nyree Howes, his “long suffering wife” Eileen, and two “idiotic mates” who “realistically just got in my bloody way”.

He also paid tribute to the local community, which has contributed vital charitable funds during the annual splash.

Mr Pirouet added: “But the final huge thanks go to... The wonderful people of Queensferry & surrounding area who came on January 1 braving big coats and bigger smiles on yer faces, and the huge amounts of cash that was popped into those collection buckets and online which went to our local lifeboat station.

“I'm sure you'll see me in and around the waters of Queensferry in the future, but a final thank you from your Chief Loony for all your support over the past few years.”