Man terrified of the beach set to enjoy first holiday in 15 years

A British man is finally able to go on holiday after a 15-year battle with a water phobia that left him terrified of the beach.

Water-phobic William Sales, 20, from Salford, Greater Manchester, first began fearing the beach at five years old when his younger brother nearly drowned after being swept out to sea.

After his brother diced with death his fear of the ocean spiralled out of control – leaving him terrified of going to the beach for five years and scared of being anywhere near the sea for 15 years.

But now he has beaten this fear after taking a three-day therapy course designed to help people with a phobia of water.

He's now able to go on his first holiday in five years and bask in the sunshine with his friends any family.

Will said: "It was embarrassing because I felt like I was wasting lots of opportunities in my life by being scared of the beach.

"I've missed out on more than 10 holidays because I was worried I was going to be pressured into going to the beach while away.

"I didn't want to ruin it for everyone else by being scared of the water and not wanting to do normal things like having fun in the sea so I had to turn them down.

"I lost a lot of friends because they thought I was boring by not wanting to go on holiday with them – when really I was just terrified of the sea.

"But after three days of therapy I realised I wasn't the only person with the irrational phobia.

"It started with going head first in the water and then in no time at all I was cured."

William can't wait to go on holiday every year and make memories with close family and friends – something he's missed out on for 15 years.

He added: "I've only ever seen pictures of tropical islands with clear-blue oceans and water.

"It's silly looking back but because of the incident I'd always associated beach holidays with drowning and danger."

The incident happened in Cornwall, in 2000, when William and three-year-old brother Alex were playing in the ocean with their Dad.

As they swam further out Alex was pulled away from the group by a strong undercurrent in the sea forcing their father, Paul, to have to rescue him.

Will said: "When my dad swam off to help Alex, I remember feeling more scared then I ever had in my life.

"I was wearing armbands but being so much smaller and so young it was really terrifying.

"I looked down and the ocean seemed to go for miles, I couldn't see anything and started to panic.

"Soon after I couldn't breathe and everything start to go black.

"I nearly passed out because I was getting so wound up.

"I thought I'd lose both my brother and dad, then from there would have to try and swim back to the shore.

"I wasn't too confident a swimmer and got myself into a really bad state.

"I was only alone for around a couple of minutes but as I helplessly splashed and yelled it seemed more like half an hour.

"That was the first time I had a panic attack and from there my fear of the ocean started."

Will's phobia then progressed to him being scared of being swimming pools during his primary school years.

He said: "Since the incident I was never able to go in the sea and it spiralled out of control.

"Even in swimming pools I had to cling to the side or go back to the shallow end.

"I was really embarrassed to tell people about my fear so I used to have to make a lot of excuses."

But now Will is excited for summer and more importantly to be going on a holiday to Tenerife with his family in December this year.

He said: "People used to think I was being boring or trying to spoil their day, realistically I was too scared and didn't know how to confess I had a phobia of water.

"Before all my brothers would do watersports on holidays, now that I've conquered my fear I can finally join them.

"Overcoming my fear of water has made me a lot more confident in general life too which is amazing.

"Obviously I don't want to be swimming marathon lengths but feel more confident to go in the sea than I ever thought I could have before.

"When I get on the beach I'm going to head straight for the water and try to make some memories by doing things I wouldn't have dreamed of before."