‘Taking the plunge’ at a festive swim in Wales meant more than just a dip in the sea in Tenby for one happy couple on Boxing Day.

As hundreds of Boxing Day bathers at the legendary event in Tenby dashed for the water, a magical moment was happening between Victoria Tansey and Philip Frith.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, thirty-four-year-old Philip, made one of his best-ever moves when he popped the question to his girlfriend, former professional dancer thirty-seven-year-old Victoria who is originally from Hakin.

Philip went down on one knee on the sand on North Beach and asked Victoria to marry him.

Fortunately, she said an ecstatic ‘yes’ to the carefully-planned proposal, which saw the couple’s special song ‘Ocean Eyes’ by Billie Eilish sound out over the beach by local DJ Steve Briers as the newly-engaged couple celebrated with a splash in the sea.

As a former Royal Marine - Philip has faced some scary situations in his life but the Boxing Day proposal was up there with the most nail-biting.

“I’ve been so nervous," he confessed, as Victoria added: "I'm just shocked - but so happy!"

Victoria, originally from Hakin, Milford Haven worked as a professional dancer – appearing on the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and Pineapple Dance Studio: Survival of the Fittest - before setting up her own entertainment agency.

Although now living in Guildford with Philip, she has always loved returning to her Pembrokeshire roots.

“When we first met, Victoria couldn’t wait to show me all around Pembrokeshire and we have made the trip as often as work would allow us, to visit her family, go beach hopping and take in the breathtaking scenery,” said Philip.

“I absolutely love sea swimming, I believe that it is so worthwhile for your body and mind, however Victoria has never been one to enjoy the cold!

“So, on our first Christmas together as a couple, Victoria surprised me by taking me to Tenby for the Boxing Day Swim - it’s honestly one of my most fond memories from the start of our relationship!

“I wanted to return her the favour of surprising her by proposing to her at this year’s swim.”

Victoria’s mum and her childhood best friend , Sean Griffiths – who she set up Milford Haven’s Unison Dance Group with in 2004 –were on the beach to watch the proposal, with Sean bringing along the engagement ring in his pocket to

Fellow swimmers crowded round to congratulate Victoria and Philip, and swim chairman Sam Skyrme-Blackhall laughed: "Well, we said 'come to the Tenby Boxing Day Swim and take the plunge' but we weren't expecting that! Congratulations to the happy couple.”

A record-breaking number of 1,150 festive bathers had a splashing time at the Tenby Boxing Day Swim, which had a fancy dress theme of Superheroes – in tribute to the RNLI in its 200th anniversary year.

The swim has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and good causes in its 52-year history, and the 2024 event saw Tenby RNLI as the main beneficiary.