The South African Madswimmer team, which departed for Nepal on April 19 to
tackle the highest swim in history, remains resolute amidst icy weather and
low oxygen levels to complete the task. They are currently in limited
satellite communication with the outside world, but SMS messages indicate
that they are making swift progress to claim a Guinness World Record for
South Africa for the highest swim. It must be higher than 6370m above sea
level to break the previous record.
After three flights and an 18-hour-long Jeep ride against steep cliffs, the
team of seven people started the ascent on April 25 in search of the highest
swimmable pool on Mount Putha Hiunchuli in the Himalayas. Today, May 3, they
have already spent 10 days on the mountain and have reached an altitude of
5500m above sea level. They are accompanied by 18 Sherpas and 30 Yaks
(cow-like transport animals) helping carry as much as a ton of equipment and
food up the mountain to give the team the best chance of reaching their
goal. The mountain’s highest point is 7246m above sea level.
The progress depends on each team member’s health, fitness, and
physiological adaptation to reduced oxygen levels as they ascend. Sometimes
they stay longer at certain altitudes to acclimatize. Cold weather at this
altitude is a given challenge each team member is wrestling with.
Jean Craven, leader of Madswimmer, believes he has assembled a very good,
diverse team to tackle this extreme goal. “Team members were chosen
carefully, but also in a way that others can see that you don’t have to be a
specialist to conquer your own metaphorical mountains,” says Jean. He says
the secret sometimes lies in stepping out of your comfort zone to do
something beyond the ordinary to make a difference.
None of the team members, apart from tour guide Sean Disney, are specialist
mountaineers, and only Jean and Deniz Kayadelen are experienced swimmers.
Jean says that’s not what it’s about, though. “Team members have proven
themselves in other areas as people who can function outside their comfort
zones, and therefore agreed to take on this expedition, which falls outside
their personal specialist fields and comfort zones. We South Africans are
tough and have enough courage to do great things for our neighbours and for
our country. If each of us, right where we are, push ourselves a little
harder, we can achieve a lot,” says Jean. “We hope to set an example of what
can be done with a new Guinness World Record for South Africa.”
The swim also aims to raise awareness about climate change, as it is causing
higher water pools in places like the Himalayas these days. All Madswimmer
swims also aim to help improve children’s lives. This time, the fundraising
will benefit the Universitas Hospital’s Oncology Unit for Teens and the Red
Cross Children’s Hospital. The team aims to raise R1 million. Upon arrival
at their first Base Camp, the team also distributed windbreaker jackets to
75 Nepalese children.
Those who wish to support these charity activities can contribute here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/swimming-the-himalayas-2024.
