Viewers say they'll never swim again after watching terrifying Netflix documentary The Deepest Breath

People are vowing to never swim again after watching Netflix’s new documentary about freediving.

The Deepest Breath, which arrived on the streaming platform on Wednesday, 19 July, has made huge waves on social media.

It gives Netflix subscribers an inside look at the swimmers that compete against one another to dive into the depths of the ocean while holding a single gulp of air. Watch the trailer below:

“Sorry, The Deepest Breath has put me off swimming altogether,” one Twitter user declared after watching the documentary.

“Dunno if it’s because I’ve a slight hangover but I put on The Deepest Breath and I’m panicking tbh. No need to be diving that deep grow up,” another viewer declared.

A third person tweeted: “Watched The Deepest Breath on Netflix last night. Wasn’t expecting to feel like I was watching a horror movie, the feeling something bad is going to happen whilst shaking my head at how incredible yet how insane these people are. Last 15-20 minutes was intense.”

And a fourth viewer said: “Deepest Breath is terrifying. Imagine being on the brink of death several times and for what?”

Netflix

So, why has the documentary caused such a fuss online, you ask?

Directed by Laura McGann, viewers watch with bated breath as the wild story of champion Italian freediver Alessia Zecchini unfolds.

In one tense moment, she attempts to break a world record by freediver for four minutes; however she passes out as she returns to the surface, leading viewers to question why the divers put their lives at risk.

“My heart has been in my mouth since I turned #TheDeepestBreath on,” one shocked viewer said. “This is absolutely scary, emotional, everything all in one!”

Another commented: “Watching The Deepest Breath on Netflix about freediving and these people who try to set records. It shows them blacking out on the way up. Very disturbing.”

Netflix

In one scene, Alessia holds her breath for over three-and-a-half minutes as she swims for almost the length of a football field.

Filmmakers also follow the story of Stephen Keenan, a safety diver whose role is to accompany the freedivers on their dives. He must be on hand to help them when the effects of being oxygen deprived takes hold, which can often lead to blackout or the diver falling unconscious.

Footage of divers blacking out and being pulled out of the water is peppered throughout the feature-length doc. In some nail-biting instances, the divers need to receive mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

If you feel brave enough to watch The Deepest Breath, which totally lives up to its title, it’s available to stream on Netflix right now.