Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Former lifeguard swims length of river for charity
AFORMER lifeguard has set an unofficial world record by swimming the entire 47.1 miles of the River Avon in the Midlands ending in Gloucestershire.
Craig Openshaw, 41, battled injury and a stomach bug to become the first person to complete the challenge in 29 hours.
The endurance event, called Swim the Avon, has now raised £17,000 for Cancer Research UK – more than triple its original target.
It involved swimming the entire navigable Avon from Alveston Weir above Stratford-upon-Avon to Tewkesbury.
To prepare, Craig did more than 130 hours of training over three and a half months, totalling 320 miles.
He finished at around 1am on Sunday and believes he has set an unofficial world record.
Avon Navigation Trust confirmed it did not have a record of any other attempts to swim the full length of the navigable reaches of the river.
Despite the successful completion, Craig said the event was riddled with challenges – including having to swim with one arm for a period due to a shoulder injury.
And he fought a fever and had to be taken to hospital a few days after he finished with a lung infection.
He said: “Everything that could have gone wrong pretty much did. In the days leading up to the challenge I picked up a bug from the river causing me to lose 8lb through stomach issues. I also had a fever and temperature.
“We decided to plough on anyway. Halfway though the swim I injured my shoulder and was swimming one armed for an hour or so. But I got some emergency physio and was able to continue.
“I had no sleep during the 29 hours, just a couple of short breaks.
“We aimed to come in under 24 hours, which should have been an easy feat, but the issues we encountered put the time back and into a second night swim.
“I am absolutely blown away by the support from everyone. There were literally over 100 people at certain spots along the river.”
Craig is now recovering at his home in Tewkesbury, but needed to visit hospital three days after he was back on dry land.
He added: “Following the challenge I had to go to A&E on Tuesday as I was struggling to breathe. The virus I had before the swim led to a lung infection and I had fluid on the lungs. I’m feeling a lot better now.”
He said he was supported by a four-man crew, including Rob Stringer who had recently lost his father to cancer, and Bob Bain who had lost his wife to cancer a few years ago.
Bob, 62, travelled the whole way in a kayak guiding Craig through the night swims and at the end could barely move his legs.
He added: “It was a personal mission for Bob after what happened to his wife so Cancer Research UK was the obvious charity for us. We have a target now to raise £20,000 so would love for some corporate sponsorship to help us reach that goal.”
Craig said he now hopes to swim the River Severn next year.
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