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Swimmers dodge jellyfish on four islands challenge | Swimmers dodge jellyfish on four islands challenge |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Meg Maitland, Linda Malcolm, Bronwyn Macaskill, Claire Gardner, Jo Lindsay, Jeremy Milne, Norma Loudon and Jo Hood started by jumping off the bass Rock | Meg Maitland, Linda Malcolm, Bronwyn Macaskill, Claire Gardner, Jo Lindsay, Jeremy Milne, Norma Loudon and Jo Hood started by jumping off the bass Rock |
A group of swimmers who battled huge swells, strong currents and stinging jellyfish are believed to have become the first people to swim between four islands in the Firth of Forth. | A group of swimmers who battled huge swells, strong currents and stinging jellyfish are believed to have become the first people to swim between four islands in the Firth of Forth. |
The Salty Selkies - who take their name from a Celtic mythical creature which could change from seal to human form - swam for more than six miles (10km) from the Bass Rock to Craigleith, Lamb and Fidra. | The Salty Selkies - who take their name from a Celtic mythical creature which could change from seal to human form - swam for more than six miles (10km) from the Bass Rock to Craigleith, Lamb and Fidra. |
All eight swimmers completed the challenge without having to stop on the middle islands for a rest. | All eight swimmers completed the challenge without having to stop on the middle islands for a rest. |
But they admitted it was hard not to think about the creatures that might be "lurking in the depths" during the challenge. | But they admitted it was hard not to think about the creatures that might be "lurking in the depths" during the challenge. |
The group trained for more than a year for the event, which started with them jumping off the Bass Rock, a rocky outcrop which is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. | The group trained for more than a year for the event, which started with them jumping off the Bass Rock, a rocky outcrop which is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. |
The swimmers took seasickness tablets | The swimmers took seasickness tablets |
Swimmer Jeremy Milne, 52, from North Berwick, told BBC Scotland: "It was the roughest conditions I've done and the boat ride to the start was like a rollercoaster, it was quite a swell. | Swimmer Jeremy Milne, 52, from North Berwick, told BBC Scotland: "It was the roughest conditions I've done and the boat ride to the start was like a rollercoaster, it was quite a swell. |
"I took seasickness tablets but by the end of the swim I was feeling very sick and exhausted and my energy levels were low from not being able to eat much due to the sickness. | "I took seasickness tablets but by the end of the swim I was feeling very sick and exhausted and my energy levels were low from not being able to eat much due to the sickness. |
"I also had cramps in my quads and hamstrings so every time I felt a twinge I had to stop kicking." | "I also had cramps in my quads and hamstrings so every time I felt a twinge I had to stop kicking." |
When they reached the end of their challenge at Fidra the waves made it it too treacherous for them to reach the finish line in the harbour as originally planned. | When they reached the end of their challenge at Fidra the waves made it it too treacherous for them to reach the finish line in the harbour as originally planned. |
Mr Milne said: "When I was told we would need to swim around to the other side of the island I felt exhausted and I wanted to get out. | Mr Milne said: "When I was told we would need to swim around to the other side of the island I felt exhausted and I wanted to get out. |
"The massive cramps were the most painful part of it and also I had a swollen tongue from taking in gulps of seawater." | "The massive cramps were the most painful part of it and also I had a swollen tongue from taking in gulps of seawater." |
He ended up swimming on his back in a bid to relieve his exhaustion. | He ended up swimming on his back in a bid to relieve his exhaustion. |
Mum-of-two Jo Lindsay is one of the seven women in the team. | Mum-of-two Jo Lindsay is one of the seven women in the team. |
The 43-year-old said she had not planned to attempt the whole course. | The 43-year-old said she had not planned to attempt the whole course. |
She said: "This was a big thing for me because our training swims were in shallow water so it was a mental shift to overcome the deep water. | She said: "This was a big thing for me because our training swims were in shallow water so it was a mental shift to overcome the deep water. |
"It took my breath away when we jumped off the steps. | "It took my breath away when we jumped off the steps. |
"In our training swims there was always a point to swim for, such as a lobster pot or a buoy, but there was nothing like that on this swim so we knew how far we had gone or to give us a feeling of progression. Each island was difficult to see over the huge swell." | "In our training swims there was always a point to swim for, such as a lobster pot or a buoy, but there was nothing like that on this swim so we knew how far we had gone or to give us a feeling of progression. Each island was difficult to see over the huge swell." |
Kayakers dropped jelly babies and pieces of banana into the swimmers' mouths during the challenge | Kayakers dropped jelly babies and pieces of banana into the swimmers' mouths during the challenge |
On the first and longest section of the challenge she said she felt anxious. | On the first and longest section of the challenge she said she felt anxious. |
She said: "I started really questioning what I was doing. I couldn't see the bottom. Then I saw the lion's mane jellyfish below me. | She said: "I started really questioning what I was doing. I couldn't see the bottom. Then I saw the lion's mane jellyfish below me. |
"When you're swimming in a vast expanse like that it is easy for it to come into your head about the creatures that might lurk in the depths. | "When you're swimming in a vast expanse like that it is easy for it to come into your head about the creatures that might lurk in the depths. |
"I tried to put it out of my mind and to keep swimming." | "I tried to put it out of my mind and to keep swimming." |
She said she was "amazed and delighted" when she reached the end of the challenge. | She said she was "amazed and delighted" when she reached the end of the challenge. |
The Salty Selkies said they were delighted to complete the challenge | The Salty Selkies said they were delighted to complete the challenge |
The oldest in the group was 70-year-old former GB world age group triathlete Linda Malcolm, who completed the course 30 minutes before the others. | The oldest in the group was 70-year-old former GB world age group triathlete Linda Malcolm, who completed the course 30 minutes before the others. |
She said: "I feel fitter than I ever have. If you don't use it you lose it and I have always kept it up. | She said: "I feel fitter than I ever have. If you don't use it you lose it and I have always kept it up. |
"I absolutely loved this challenge. It was the farthest I have ever swam and I felt elevated and elated." | "I absolutely loved this challenge. It was the farthest I have ever swam and I felt elevated and elated." |
The group were swimming for a mental health charity, the Laura Hyde Foundation. | The group were swimming for a mental health charity, the Laura Hyde Foundation. |
Claire Gardner, from North Berwick, said they had kayakers to protect and guide them. They also dropped jelly babies into the swimmers' mouths. | Claire Gardner, from North Berwick, said they had kayakers to protect and guide them. They also dropped jelly babies into the swimmers' mouths. |
The stinging tentacles of lion's mane jellyfish can grow to up to 3m in length | The stinging tentacles of lion's mane jellyfish can grow to up to 3m in length |
The swimmers carried water to drink in bottles attached to their tow floats, which are used for visibility. | The swimmers carried water to drink in bottles attached to their tow floats, which are used for visibility. |
The 48-year-old said: "This was a year in the planning and we put a lot of thought into all the safety measures. | The 48-year-old said: "This was a year in the planning and we put a lot of thought into all the safety measures. |
"We came across several lion's mane jellyfish, which can give a nasty sting, but thankfully we avoided injury. | "We came across several lion's mane jellyfish, which can give a nasty sting, but thankfully we avoided injury. |
"This was an incredible challenge and one we're so jubilant and excited to have achieved." | "This was an incredible challenge and one we're so jubilant and excited to have achieved." |
And she said one of the highlights was when Uri Geller, who owns the Island of Lamb, tweeted about them passing his island. | And she said one of the highlights was when Uri Geller, who owns the Island of Lamb, tweeted about them passing his island. |
Geller also later congratulated the swimmers. | |
Hi to all the courageous amazing women who completed this agonizing challenge! Congratulations to you all this was actually quite a heroic accomplishment! People are known to have died from jellyfish stings to battle your way through the cold sea and the powerful currents WOW! |