A total of 330 swimmers took the plunge in the Thomas Smith charity swim this morning – breaking all participation records for the annual event and raising €14,000.

The warm, sunny day clearly enticed the crowds, as large numbers gathered in Balluta Bay for the charity swim, many decked out in Christmas hats or entire costumes.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

Swimmers ran the range from old to young, with two-year old Eva Testa Bickle completing the swim in her mother’s arms to make her the youngest participant on the day.

Eva’s sister Julia, 5, was also there, the third time she has taken part in the swim, having been the youngest swimmer herself on a number of occasions.

Alfred Abela and Wilfred Pirotta, both 79 years old, were the oldest swimmers.

Elsewhere among the record crowd, amputee Noel Cacciottolo also dived in, accompanied by his brother-in-law Raniero Borg.

This was the first time Mr Cacciottolo was taking part in the swim, but the duo also completed the Mdina-to-Spinola road race this month, with Mr Cacciottolo wheeling himself most of the distance and running the last few metres on a prosthetic leg.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

The Thomas Smith charity swim has taken place around Christmas every year since 1998 and has since turned into a public event where participants are encouraged to raise €50 each for the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Before this year, the largest number of swimmers ever was 299 in 2013, when a total of €15,000 were collected. 

Opening the event this year, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca thanked all the participants for their generosity and expressed her hopes for a New Year of peace and unity.