Sea Donkey helps Sam realise Castle Swim dream
Completing the Castle Swim is something that Sam Winterflood’s mum could have never imagined him doing, but with the support of Guernsey Swim All Seasons members, he did just that on Sunday.
Mr Winterflood has epilepsy and autism, and has seizures most days.
‘When he said that it was something he wanted to do I thought it would be another thing that I would have to tell him he can’t do,’ said Helen Fernandez, Mr Winterflood’s mum.
It all started when Mrs Fernandez was challenged by her sister-in-law to do 60 new things after her 60th birthday.
‘I said one of the things that I wanted to do was the Castle Swim, and Sam heard and said that it was something that he would like to do,’ she said.
‘He’s 34 and works at Grow so I spoke to [Channel swimmer] Mandy Mackleworth, who is the new CEO there, and she said she would speak to people. Adrian Sarchet then agreed to support him.’
Mr Sarchet, known as the Sea Donkey, is one of Guernsey’s leading sea swimmers, having swum tough swim challenges around the world, as well as having swum around Guernsey and Jersey. But he is also involved with Guernsey Disability Swimming, which enables people with a range of disabilities to swim under a protective, secure environment. Since that first contact Mr Sarchet, who already knew Mr Winterflood from Guernsey Disability Swimming, has helped him with his training.
‘Adrian swam at the bathing pools with him up and down until he had done enough that we could know he would cover in the swim,’ said Mrs Fernandez.
‘I want to really thank Adrian, he is so laid back with Sam.’
Mr Winterflood swam alongside Adrian Sarchet and sea swimmer Mark Torode to complete the charity challenge to go from Castle Cornet to the bathing pools, alongside more than 700 other swimmers on Sunday morning.
Mr Sarchet said that seeing Mr Winterflood reach the other side of Havelet was ‘absolutely wonderful’.
‘He expressed a dream I suppose that he would like to do the Castle Swim and worked and trained incredibly hard to do it,’ he said.
‘I am really proud.’
Mr Winterflood said he had enjoyed taking part in the swim.
‘It was very refreshing and welcoming, and nice to get a medal at the end,’ he said.
