My magical world!

Pensioner Eric loves to ‘freedive’ among the sea creatures off Britain’s south coast…

- NICK CANNON, VICTORIA WILSON

OUR LIVES: OUR SEA FOREST Friday, 7.30pm (NI, 8pm; Wales, 8.30pm), BBC1 Factual 

When most people hit retirement age, they take it easy. That's not the case for ex-lorry driver Eric Smith, 73, from Sussex, who, since he was 11, has been 'freediving' - that means going underwater without the aid of scuba gear, so just holding his breath!

'I love freediving. When I was younger, I could hold my breath for four minutes,' reveals Eric, who'd explore areas of giant seaweed known as kelp beds. 'What I saw was incredible.'