Swim in extreme cold to highlight climate changes

BRITISH adventurer Lewis Gordon Pugh began his journey to the Arctic yesterday to raise awareness of the “devastating effects” of climate change by swimming in the coldest waters ahuman has endured.

Mr Pugh travelled from London to Helsinki ahead of his attempt to swim 1km to the Geographic North Pole in temperatures ofminus 1.8C.

If he is successful Mr Pugh will break his own record which he set in 2005 off Antarctica when he swam in temperatures of 0C. In accordance with Channel Swimming Association rules, he will swim in only Speedo trunks, a cap and a pair of goggles, despite the extreme cold.

From Helsinki he will travel to Murmansk where he will join a Russian icebreaker to take him and his crew to their destination.

Mr Pugh, 37, expects the Investec North Pole Challenge, which will take place on July 15, to take about 21 minutes to complete.

At a press conference ahead of his departure he said: “Just five or 10 years ago this swim would never have been possible.

“It’s deeply regrettable that it’s possible now because of the devastating effects of climate change.”