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Huge Turnout For Polar Bear Plunges

SOUTH BOSTON (CBS) – About 1,000 people took advantage of the warmer weather Saturday and went swimming outside.

The spring-like temperatures brought out a larger crowd than usual for the L Street Brownies annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge.

David Wade
David Wade hustles out of the water in Southie. (photo by Dominic Aielli)

Among them - WBZ-TV's David Wade and WBZ News Radio's Rod Fritz.

"I can't tell you how many people I have seen swimming this year. More than I've ever seen in all the seven years that I've been coming here on New Year's Day," Fritz said.

WBZ Radio's Rod Fritz on 2011 Plunge

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This was Wade's first time. What did he think?

"Cold," he said. "I think I'll feel my legs again in 2012."

Watch David Wade's plunge

The L Street Polar Bear Plunge has been held every January 1 for more than 100 years.

Yarmouth Polar Plunge
Several people ran into the water at Smuggler's Beach in South Yarmouth. (photo by Kathy Curran)

On the Cape, several people jumped into Nantucket Sound to celebrate the start of the New Year.

A team of Yarmouth police officers, firefighters, town officials, and residents ran into the water at Smuggler's Beach in South Yarmouth.

The plunge raised money for programs and activities at the Yarmouth Senior Center.

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