Surgeon beats Channel-swim age record

Surgeon beats Channel-swim age record NEWS

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Retired surgeon, Roger Allsopp, has beaten the record for being the oldest person to swim the English Channel at 70 years of age.

Roger Allsopp, from Guernsey, turned 70 in April and after completing the 21-nautical mile swim in just under 18 hours he said: 'I do feel an immense sense of achievement and relief that I have been successful.'

The retired breast cancer surgeon described his feat as an 'incredible personal challenge'. By swimming the channel, Allsopp has reportedly raised thousands of pounds for cancer research.

Allsopp first swam the Channel in 2006 and completed the swim in 15-and-a-half hours.

Aged 70 this time round, the grandfather-of-three set off from Shakespeare Beach in Dover at 08:00am on Tuesday, completing the swim in 17 hours and 51 minutes.

Allsopp beat the current Guinness World Record set by uncle of actor Matt Damon, George Brunstad.

The first person to swim the Channel was British merchant navy captain Matthew Webb in 1875, 136 years ago.

Allsopp also ran the London Marathon at the age of 60.

'I've never been one to sit on my laurels. Retirement has been wonderful but I know how important it is to keep active in mind and body to live a healthy retirement and so I set myself physical challenges to ensure that I keep as fit and healthy as I can,' he said.