Stag-do Briton survives killer Hoover Dam dip
A BRITISH tourist is thought to be the first person to survive swimming across America’s notorious Hoover Dam reservoir – after he went on a 37-hour stag-do bender.
Arron Hughes, 28, was fined £250 by police who led him away in handcuffs after crossing the treacherous stretch of water in Nevada.
Swimmers are banned from the 726ft structure because of the danger of being sucked under by the giant turbines that generate hydro electric power at the site.
Over the past 10 years, about 275 people have perished trying to swim from one side to the other.
But fearless Mr Hughes was undaunted, putting his courage down to “having enough beer at the time”.
Stunt
The forklift truck driver told how he only survived the stunt because nine of the 10 turbines were switched off.
Mr Hughes, of Ruthin, North Wales, had been on a stag-do drinking session in nearby Las Vegas before his party headed to the dam, a popular tourist spot.
He said: “Ten of us were on a stag do and it was my first time in Vegas.
“We hadn’t stopped drinking all week and I just wanted to make the most of it. It was all down to having enough beer at the time.
“We decided to go and see the Hoover Dam and on the way there, me and my friend were sat in the back of a pick-up. It was like an oven – it was roasting. After a few days of drinking I decided I was going to go for a swim. The plan was to have a dip then jump out but, in the end, I thought you only live once, I may as well go for it.”
It took him 30 minutes to make it across the reservoir.
Mr Hughes said: “The water pushes you towards the wall so you’ve got to swim quite hard.
“The police were shocked. One officer said, ‘In my whole lifetime I’ve never seen or heard of anyone doing it.’
“I didn’t realise it was an offence. There are no signs saying no swimming – you’re just expected not to.”
Mr Hughes added: “The police were totally fine and just said we can’t believe it.”
His ticket issued by Nevada police lists the offence as: “Jumping, diving, swimming from dam’s spillways or other structures.”