Record-breaking Rebecca swims underwater for two and a half minutes

A swimmer has broken a UK freediving record after swimming nearly four lengths of an Olympic-sized pool without coming up for air.

Rebecca Coales, who was born in Stockport, held her breath for more than TWO AND A HALF MINUTES as she swam a total of 179 metres at the town's Life Leisure Grand Central baths.

Video courtesy of Martin Toole Imagery

Rebecca, who grew up in Davenport and went to Stockport Grammar School, broke the previous DYN (Dynamic with fins) record by four metres.

Rebecca, 38, told the Manchester Evening News:

The world DYN record is 234m, set by 22-time Russian world champion Natalia Molchanova in June 2013.