A Leeds Met academic has entered the International Swimming Hall of Fame, following his work in promoting water safety.

Stathis Avramidis, a lecturer with the Carnegie Faculty of Sport & Education, received the Paragon Award Of Water Safety from the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a non-profit organisation located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Its mission is to inspire everyone to be a swimmer by promoting the benefits and importance of swimming as a key to fitness, good health, quality of life, and the water safety of all adults and children.

Stathis, is the author of eight academic text books used for teaching water safety. A Sport Science graduate of Athens University, he holds over 137 certifications on lifeguarding, lifesaving, first aid, personal survival, scuba diving, fire awareness, defibrillation, baby/preschool swimming and community sports from 13 countries.

Currently a lecturer at the University, he has taught over 8,000 people of various abilities, disabilities, academic backgrounds and age groups from 15 countries.

He said: "The Paragon Award is the most prestigious worldwide recognition that an aquatic safety professional might have. Therefore, I feel very honoured to be presented it.

"This academic year has been very successful so far as I have edited/published the Handbook on Drowning together with 144 co-authors from 22 countries. I will be inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame and I am working towards the completion of my PhD on drowning."