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Longest river swimmer first to conquer Severn | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
An aquatic adventurer has become the first person to swim the UK's longest river. | |
Kevin Brady, 32, took a month to swim the 220-mile (350km) River Severn and said he was "sad it was over". | |
Along the way he front crawled past dangerous currents and dead sheep, dealt with violent bouts of river belly and stood to greet admiring supporters. | |
He began on 23 September at the river's source and reached Severn Beach, his endpoint, just before 18:45 BST. | |
After completing the swim, he said he was feeling "awesome, I've just swum the Severn". | |
He said: "I'm feeling more like laughing than crying. I'm so happy to have finished the river, but do you know what? | |
"Seeing all my family and friends coming together every single day, I'm just going to be so sad that this is over. | |
"It's been the most amazing experience of my life." | |
Mr Brady, who last year spent 140 days canoeing the length of the Mississippi River in the US, had originally planned to swim more than 10 miles (16km) per day. | |
However, because of bouts of sickness and difficult currents, he settled on a lesser daily distance and came in 12 days behind schedule as a result. | |
The adventure began at the river's source in Plynlimon, Powys, and Mr Brady swam through Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire along the way to the Severn Estuary. | |
On Wednesday, he safely overcame the most dangerous stretch of water, taking two hours to swim through "the noose". | On Wednesday, he safely overcame the most dangerous stretch of water, taking two hours to swim through "the noose". |
He had been urged by the Severn Area Rescue Association - which deployed two small lifeboats nearby - to abandon the swim over safety concerns. | He had been urged by the Severn Area Rescue Association - which deployed two small lifeboats nearby - to abandon the swim over safety concerns. |
However, spurred on by a rising tide of support, the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing were the last remaining landmarks in his sights as he swam beneath both before reaching Severn Beach. | |
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