Minch swimmer triumphs in challenge but may lose out on record

THE freezing temperatures and gruelling currents of the 15 miles of open sea from Waternish in Skye to Rodel in Harris has beaten many a daredevil free swimmer.

However 22 year old Eilidh Macdonald became the first person to swim across the Little Minch to the Western Isles on Thursday evening in nine and half hours – creating a new world record.

Yet it seems the young swimmer’s achievements may not be officially recognised, due to the fact that Eilidh had to don a wetsuit in order to survive the cold waters.

“Both her parents are from Lewis”

Her wetsuit has been deemed a ‘swimming aid’ breaching the rules of the British Long Distance  Swimming Association (BLDSA).

The BLDSA consider the suits an aid to buoyancy, but  also its protective qualities against the cold are frowned upon, as they believe swimmers should be ‘braving the elements’.

Battling cramp and dodging thousands of jellyfish an exhausted Eilidh almost gave up on her record setting swim within sight of the headland at Rodel, but she persevered telling herself ‘just touch the wall’.

Her magnificent achievement has meant Eilidh, who is from York but has strong family connections to the Isle of Lewis (both her parents are from Lewis), has raised £3,000 for charities: Bethesda Hospice in Stornoway, Martin House Children’s Hospice in York and the Cat Welfare and Rescue Trust.

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