Cold-weather swimmer prompts 911 calls

CHICAGO, March 27 (UPI) -- A Chicago man said his enthusiasm for cold-weather swimming has led to multiple encounters with police and firefighters when concerned witnesses call 911.

Boban Simic, 30, a bouncer, boxer and mixed martial arts fighter, said he takes weekly trips to Montrose Beach on Lake Michigan to wade through the ice and slush for a cold-weather swim that he believes to be beneficial to his health and well-being, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.

"Every cell in your body is alive," Simic said. "You come out and you feel like a baby, like born again... the whole day after you do something like this, you feel happier you can deal with pressure, you can deal with a lot of things a lot easier."

However, Simic said his swims have resulted in multiple encounters with police and firefighters.

"One of the cops told me, the one that was kind of mean to me, he told me that next time he catches me, I'm going straight to jail," Simic said.

However, a police spokesman said Simic will not be arrested.

"He has been advised by officers that swimming in the lake at this time of year is dangerous," a police spokesman said.

Simic said firefighters have been more understanding of his hobby.

"Our guys understand what he's doing and it's not a problem," said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. "It's just a matter of notification. He should let us know when he's out there and when he gets out of the water ... because if someone calls, and we don't know, we gotta go."