Police diver fronts cancer TV ad
Ad campaign to air on Yesterday channel to raise awareness
A Metropolitan Police diver is the face of a new bowel cancer charity TV ad campaign.
43 year-old Andy Thom from Sussex was diagnosed with the disease three years ago, shortly before he underwent surgery.
Andy scours riverbeds to find bodies or weapons
But for someone as active as Andy, his illness came as a shock – not to mention that he has a wife and two children.
A follow-up surgical procedure called a reverse ileostomy has gradually enabled him to eat more normal foods.
Looking for support, he contacted the charity Beating Bowel Cancer and found solace in speaking to other sufferers.
Andy is a well-known club diver on the boats operating along the south coast, and when not diving for fun or raising his family, has found time to run marathons in support of his chosen charity.
With a day job as a police diver he’s certainly no stranger to being in uncomfortable situations. The Met Police underwater unit scours riverbeds, lakes and other such testing conditions to find bodies or locate weapons used in crime.
Cancer is another thing entirely and when asked, Andy was happy to front the TV ad campaign. Screened initially on cable channel Yesterday, the Beating Bowel Cancer ad encourages viewers to be in tune with their bodies and aware of the symptoms of the disease.
One in 17 people in this country will be affected by bowel cancer, with people aged over 50 particularly at risk. So make sure you know the signs, and consider donating via the Beating Bowel Cancer website.


BSAC Incident Report 2022 released
In total, the report analyses 248 incidents reported in the UK and overseas

BSAC club boats take to the Thames
Flotilla through through London celebrated the 70th anniversary of the British Sub-Aqua Club

Oceanic+ adds freediving to Apple Watch Ultra
Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2 can now be used for freediving to 40 metres

Oceanic+ Dive Housing set to take iPhone underwater
Enables divers to easily share their underwater adventures