Seventy-nine-year-old Hamid Begovac from Zenica made his 65th winter swim in the Bosna river, at a temperature of around 2 degrees Celsius, at Kamberovica field near this central-Bosnian town.

“If we count the new year and Cimburijada swim (an event held on every first day of spring), this was my 65th dip in the river Bosna,” Hamid said.

“I had my first swim when I was 14. I swam in January, in Travnik,” Hamid noted, adding that intense preparation is required before he does this.

He mostly rubs his body with snow but in case there is no snow, like this year, he uses ice cubes. After the snow rub, he enters the water.

Hamdija has been retired for the past 19 years, and he became a regular blood donor at the age of 60. On his own account, he donated blood exactly 51 times.

He said he broke his arms and legs three times, busted his head, had several operations, but he is still in good health. The most important thing is that one has a healthy heart, Hamdija concluded.