A climate change activist has become the first person to swim under an Antarctic ice sheet – wearing just a pair of trunks, cap and goggles.
Lewis Pugh, 50, swam for 10 minutes and 17 seconds in the river underneath the melting ice sheet.
The extreme conditions of the East Antarctica ice sheet, which holds the record for the Earth’s lowest recorded temperature, ensured this was the toughest swim of his life.
He also faced a severe wind-chill factor and had to contend with the threat of the glacial river suddenly emptying out though a crack in the ice and tumbling hundreds of metres to the rock bed below.
Mr Pugh hopes the swim will be a catalyst for the creation of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the wilderness of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, to reduce pressure on wildlife and counter the impacts of climate change.
“Today was certainly the most frightening swim of my life,” Mr Pugh said.
Swimming under the Antarctic ice sheet is the most beautiful and terrifying swim I’ve ever done. Every shade of blue, and then nearly complete darkness. Mid-way I heard an almighty boom above me, and thought my time had come. Luckily, it was just the ice shifting. #Antarctica2020 pic.twitter.com/2mZQpeUECd
— Lewis Pugh (@LewisPugh) January 24, 2020
He added that a last training swim on Thursday was “the culmination of 33 years of training in order to swim 10 minutes and 17 seconds down that river”.
“I swam here today (Friday) as we are in a climate emergency. We need immediate action from all nations to protect our planet.
“I hope that my swim underneath the Antarctic ice sheet will ignite international leaders and lead to the introduction of the marine protected areas this region so critically needs.
“We do not have 50 years or 20 years or even 10 years to solve this crisis. We have run out of time. The time for action is now.”
Mr Pugh will now travel to Moscow to take part in Russia’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica, where he will hold talks with political leaders.
