WATCH: Sea Donkey completes 24-hour La Vallette swim

The experienced challenge swimmer began his laps of the pool to cheers from supporters at 3pm on Saturday.

He then swam through the night and into the following day, doing hundreds of tumble turns and lengths.

As the finish line came into sight, the terraces around the pools filled with hundreds of islanders, who whistled and clapped to motivate the exhausted swimmer to the end of the challenge.

As he finished his final lap and touched the end, he raised his arm to the audience in a wave.

Watch: Adrian Sarchet completes his incredible 24-hour swim challenge

His wife, Andrea Sarchet-Luff, leant down to the water for a kiss from her husband.

She said it had been a hard 24 hours for Mr Sarchet, but the crowds had been wonderful.

‘It’s very different to his other swims, because we can see him doing the challenge,’ she said.

‘That is great and support from the crowd has been mind-boggling.’

Mr Sarchet was gently led from the pool, to cheers from the crowd.

The aim of the challenge was to raise money for Vive La Vallette and Guernsey Disability Swimming to help cover the cost of the new wheelchair and reduced mobility access to the Ladies’ Pool.

More than £100,000 was raised ahead of the event and organisers are still counting up the weekend’s donations.

Event organiser Claire Allen said everything had gone to plan on the swim.

Originally about 325 swimmers were going to join Mr Sarchet as companion swimmers for an hour at a time.

But in the end more than 400 turned up, as people were keen to get involved. They were all fitted in.

‘It’s exceeded our expectations,’ Mrs Allen said.

‘We are delighted with how it has gone.’

Vive La Vallette chairman Dave Warr said it had been amazing to watch Mr Sarchet.

‘It’s hard to put into words,’ he said.

‘He is a remarkable man.’

• To donate visit sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsorship/race/2712