Lying back and putting your feet up could save your life if you get into trouble in the water, according to the RNLI.

Twenty-six people died on Scotland's coastline last year and cold water shock is one of the biggest dangers.

It causes people suddenly submerged in frigid water to thrash around and gasp uncontrollably.

The RNLI is urging people to learn about cold water shock to raise their chances of survival, so STV News reporter Claire McNeill took the plunge at Pinkston White Water Centre in Glasgow.

I naively thought I'd be able to present a two-minute live for our lunchtime news programme about the floating technique and what you should do.

But you can see it in my face: I was suffering - almost instantly - from cold water shock, which our lifeguard Iona Hamilton explained triggers the instinctive but life-threatening reaction to gasp uncontrollably and swim.

You're thinking 'get me out of this situation', but I couldn't catch my breath or move my limbs, and trying would make the situation worse.

The effects of cold water shock pass within 60 to 90 seconds but it's in that minute-and-a-half that people get into trouble.

How you react in those 90 seconds can mean the difference between life and death.