Jim’s successful channel swim for Dentaid

After an anxious wait, Jim received the call to tell him that conditions would be right for him to attempt the epic swim at 7.30pm on Sunday, September 13. Accompanied by his support team and pilot boat High Hopes, Jim overcame a wave of challenges and swam through the night before reaching a remote beach near Calais in 11 hours and 53 minutes.

“I’d only ever swam for six hours before, so I was very nervous before setting off,” he said. “The sea temperature was about 18 degrees which was okay but in the first hour I faced the roughest seas I’d ever swam in. It was very choppy, and I swallowed a lot of salt water.

“It soon became more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I did consider getting out after three hours, but I knew there was nothing wrong with me and I had to keep going.”

Every 45 minutes Jim stopped to take on food and liquids while treading water, before ploughing on through the waves. “It takes a long time before France appears to be any closer which was incredibly frustrating, but it was a clear night and swimming under the stars was pretty special.”