Man completes swims in each of the Seven Seas

Lewis Pugh, who is trying to raise awareness of climate change, finished his challenge by swimming up the Thames.

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Lewis Pugh becomes the first person to swim the Seven Seas

Lewis Pugh has swam in seven seas for his UN Ocean challenge Credit: ITV News

Lewis completed his final swim from Southend-on-Sea up to the Thames Barrier.

He broke the swim into two lengths – Southend to Gravesend on the 28th August and Gravesend to the Thames Barrier on the 29th August.

It took him 8 hours and 12 minutes.

He swam the last leg from Southend to the Thames Barrier Credit: ITV News

I've just completed the first long-distance swim in the Seven Seas of the ancient world. I've experienced some things I will never forget. And seen some things I wish I could erase from my memory, but which will haunt me for the rest of my days. I will never forget the people I met along this journey, the literally hundreds of people from all walks of life who helped us and supported us and jumped in the sea to swim with us, just to be part of this mission, just for their love of the sea.

– Lewis Pugh, Endurance Swimmer
He swam the Thames Estuary in 8 hours and 12 minutes. Credit: ITV News

The renowned endurance swimmer is the United Nation’s Patron of the Oceans.

The UN is urging all nations to set aside at least 10% of the world’s oceans as effective and well-managed Marine Protected Areas by 2020.

Details of all his swims are as follows:

  • 9th August, he swam from Monte Carlo, Monaco for 10km in the Mediterranean Sea. It took 3 hours and 33 minutes.
  • 12th August, he set off from Zadar, Croatia along the Kornati Islands swimming 10km in the Adriatic Sea. That swim took 3 hours and 55 minutes.
  • 16th August, he swam the Aegean Sea from Athens, Greece, It took 3 hours and 12 minutes.
  • 19th August, he left Istanbul, Turkey for a 10km swim in the Black Sea. That leg took hours and 48 minutes.
  • 21st August, he travelled to Aqaba, Jordan to swim the Red Sea in 2 hours and 57 minutes.
  • 25th August, he set off from Rass Al Hadd, Oman and swam 10km in the Arabian Sea for 3 hours and 15 minutes.
  • 28th-29th August, he swam from Southend up to the Thames Barrier, part of the North Sea. The 60km swim took 8 hours and 12 minutes.

Endurance swimmer to complete final leg of seven swims in all Seven Seas

Lewis Pugh is swimming all seven seas to raise awareness of climate change Credit: PA

Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron of the Oceans and renowned endurance swimmer, will complete the final leg of his Seven Seas Campaign by swimming up the Thames.

Nicknamed the Human Polar Bear for his ability to swim long distances in freezing waters, Lewis is swimming from Southend to Gravesend before swimming to the Thames Barrier.

He's the first man to swim at the North Pole and over the last four weeks has completed swims in each of the Seven Seas, the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Black, Red, Arabian and the North Sea.

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