He has conquered the English Channel and the North Sea, but now Norfolk pensioner Steve Whitby has his sights set on completing his biggest challenge yet: swimming the width of the Atlantic.
Mr Whitby, 74, from Mundesley, began swimming the 2,085-mile distance of the Atlantic Ocean from Senegal to Brazil at his local pool six years ago.
It works out at around 134,200 lengths of the 25m swimming pool at the Victory Swim and Fitness Centre in North Walsham – and with just 90 miles to go, the finish line is now in sight.
“I completed a couple of lesser challenges and finished them very quickly,” Mr Whitby said.
“I thought ‘what’s the longest challenge they do’, and I found one replicating a swim someone did of the Atlantic between Senegal in Africa and Brazil in South America.
“I’m a very stubborn man - when I set my mind to do something I do my damnedest to do it. But there have been times when I’ve thought why on earth don’t I just give up.
“I swim about two miles a day, which is why I think I’ll finish by the end of January next year.”
READ MORE: Man walks 150 MILES to visit his dad in care
Mr Whitby’s first challenges saw him swim English Channel – 21 miles from Dover to Calais, or 1,360 lengths of the pool – in three weeks, swimming for two hours every morning.
The North Sea followed, and Mr Whitby swam the 127 miles from Harwick to Hook of Holland, or 135,000 lengths, in seven weeks.
READ MORE: Norfolk school threatened with closure could be saved with final roll of the dice
His latest challenge is in aid of the Hebron Trust – a charity supporting women.
“Over the years we’ve helped around 500 women,” Mr Whitby, who has been a trustee of the charity for 18 years, said.
“We’ve now got four houses which provide 19 beds in and around Norwich. It’s all for vulnerable women who need support.”
To donate, search ‘Steve's Atlantic swim fundraiser for Hebron Trust’ on Just Giving
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here