‘I can’t wait to get back in for a swim and loosen up’
SWIMMING nearly 60km in a gruelling 24 hours was not enough to stop Sea Donkey Adrian Sarchet from wanting to dive back in.
After completing the intense 24-hour swimming challenge surrounded by family, friends and members of the public, Mr Sarchet was ready to get back into the water yesterday.
‘Parts of my body are refusing to co-operate, so I can’t wait to get back in for a swim and loosen up, but generally I’m feeling good,’ he said.
‘I’ve got a massage booked in so that will sort me out.’
After swimming 59,250 metres, Mr Sarchet said he had no idea that the challenge was over.
As he started to tumble into his next length of the pool, he was tapped on the shoulder and told that there would be no more turns.
Watch: Ady Sarchet looks back at his extraordinary 24-hour swim
‘It took me a good few moments to realise what was happening, I think that’s why I look so confused in all the photos,’ he said.
Mr Sarchet said that he was assisted out of the pool and into his bed on Sunday afternoon and reflected on the previous 24 hours.
During the night was when he experienced some of his highest and lowest moments of the swim.
‘It was really cold during the night once the air temperature had dropped and I think my body just went into survival mode,’ he said.
‘But there was one point, it was about 3am, it was cold, my energy had dropped and my muscles were starting to cramp, but I glanced across and there were 15 other people in the pool with me and a whole host of observers.
‘There was laughter, joy, music and dancing even at that hour and that was what really got me past that point.’
Unlike other Sea Donkey quests, Mr Sarchet was able to leave the pool briefly.
He did so on two occasions, excluding bathroom breaks, once to greet another island swimming legend, cross-Channel swimmer Roger Allsopp, who came to support him, and a second time to help his wife, Andrea, into the pool. He said that having the opportunity of swimming alongside his wife was one of his highlights of the challenge.
‘When you’re in the water you’re behind the curve and so I just caught little flashes of music, Mexican waves, even the lifeguards dancing,’ he said.
‘The crowds of people were just unbelievable and I still can’t believe how many people turned out to support me, I’m so grateful.’
More than £125,000 has been raised so far to cover the assisted access facilities at La Vallette, and Mr Sarchet has asked for a final push to reach the £150,000 goal.
n Donations can be made at: https://sportsgiving.co.uk/sponsorship/race/2712.
