My phobia of water made me feel I would die & I hated beach days with kids… now I jump off cliffs after miracle cure
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OVERWHELMED with panic and struggling to draw breath under a heap of panic, Tracey Rice was almost certain this was how she was going to die. She only hoped her twin sons would be proud of her knowing she died confronting her greatest fear - open water.
![[Woman experiencing fear of open water on a boat.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tracey-rice-husband-i-fear-965536277.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In a chat with The Sun, the 50-year-old explains: "Oh my God, that feeling. I couldn't breathe, I had chest pains and I just thought 'This is it.'. "At least my kids would know I died trying and they would know I did everything I could for them. But I thought it was time for me to go and it's just the most awful feeling.".
![[Tracey Rice discussing her fear of open water.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tracey-rice-husband-i-fear-965536609.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In a new Channel 4 show, The Fear Clinic: Face Your Phobia, Tracey, desperate to find a solution to her fear, let a team of professionals guide her to overcome it. Tracey's phobia, which began at the age of 17, had gripped her so badly that it affected many aspects of her life - including being a mum to her boys.
![[Tracey Rice and her husband Jon Rice posing for a photo.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tracey-rice-husband-i-fear-965516937_a3e19c.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
She says: "Seeing open water, I would start to feel sick. My mouth would start to dry out and I would start to shake uncontrollably. My feet wouldn't move. I would literally be grounded. "I couldn't look at the water and I'd go into a total state of panic just by going near the water. Once I had the children it was really difficult because my kids were water babies.
![[Woman helping another woman in the water wearing life vests.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tracey-rice-husband-i-fear-965536222.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"They absolutely loved the water. When we went on holiday abroad or took them to the beach, I couldn't take part in those milestone memories with them because I couldn't go near the water. "It was awful. I just felt I couldn't be a complete mum and I didn't want them to have my fear. I used to give the kids excuses all the time.
![[Two women in life vests on a boat, a man in a wetsuit visible in the background.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tracey-rice-husband-i-fear-965536033.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
