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Essex ex-Royal Engineer Mark Colman in underwater record bid | Essex ex-Royal Engineer Mark Colman in underwater record bid |
(1 day later) | |
A former soldier from Essex aims to break a world record by staying underwater for five days. | A former soldier from Essex aims to break a world record by staying underwater for five days. |
Ex-Royal Engineer Mark Colman, of Corringham, hopes to stay submerged in a water tank in Basildon for 120 hours. | Ex-Royal Engineer Mark Colman, of Corringham, hopes to stay submerged in a water tank in Basildon for 120 hours. |
He wants to raise £500,000 for Veterans in Action (VIA), a charity which he said changed his life. | He wants to raise £500,000 for Veterans in Action (VIA), a charity which he said changed his life. |
It is the first time the 44-year-old has dived in more than a decade after losing a friend in a diving accident and developing post-traumatic stress. | It is the first time the 44-year-old has dived in more than a decade after losing a friend in a diving accident and developing post-traumatic stress. |
Mr Colman left the Army in 1994, after serving in the first Gulf War, and became ill after the accident and the added loss of his sister. | Mr Colman left the Army in 1994, after serving in the first Gulf War, and became ill after the accident and the added loss of his sister. |
He turned to VIA and their support for former members of the armed forces who find civilian life difficult to adjust to. | He turned to VIA and their support for former members of the armed forces who find civilian life difficult to adjust to. |
'Positive about future' | 'Positive about future' |
"This is a huge personal challenge for me," he said. | "This is a huge personal challenge for me," he said. |
"Thanks to VIA I am more positive about the future and am turning my life around. | "Thanks to VIA I am more positive about the future and am turning my life around. |
"The charity has been amazing for me and my health and more so my sanity. | "The charity has been amazing for me and my health and more so my sanity. |
"I have learnt not to suffer in silence." | "I have learnt not to suffer in silence." |
He began the challenge at the Underwater Studios in Basildon on Monday and aims to stay in the 20ft deep tank until Friday. | |
The rules allow Mr Colman to come out of the water every four hours for 20-minute breaks for food and water. | The rules allow Mr Colman to come out of the water every four hours for 20-minute breaks for food and water. |
Otherwise he must remain submerged to break the current world record for the longest dive in a controlled environment, which stands at 100 hours. | Otherwise he must remain submerged to break the current world record for the longest dive in a controlled environment, which stands at 100 hours. |
To keep him occupied, music is being pumped into the tank around-the-clock and he will take part in games and activities. | To keep him occupied, music is being pumped into the tank around-the-clock and he will take part in games and activities. |
On Tuesday, a blog about his challenge said Mark had had "a really difficult night" and water saturation and lack of circulation had given him sore hands. | On Tuesday, a blog about his challenge said Mark had had "a really difficult night" and water saturation and lack of circulation had given him sore hands. |
"His spirits are still high despite the pain he is going through," it added. | "His spirits are still high despite the pain he is going through," it added. |
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