Understand
Woman braves jellyfish and seals to conquer English Channel swim
Overview
Karen Mee from Snitterfield successfully swam the English Channel, completing the 21-mile crossing from Dover to France in 14 hours and 39 minutes. She raised nearly £17,000 for Parkinson's and brain tumour charities, wanting to finish the challenge while her father, who has Parkinson's disease, could still understand her achievement. Swimming under Channel Swimming Association rules without a wetsuit, Mee encountered seals, jellyfish stings, and busy shipping lanes during the grueling journey.
Key points
- Karen Mee completed the 21-mile English Channel swim from Dover to France in 14 hours and 39 minutes on 4 October.
- She raised nearly £17,000 for Parkinson's and brain tumour charities.
- Mee wanted to finish the challenge before her father's Parkinson's disease progressed further so he could understand her achievement.
- The swim began at 03:30 BST, requiring her to swim through four hours of darkness guided by a support boat's spotlight.
- During the crossing, she faced jellyfish stings, seals, and large cargo ships in busy shipping lanes.
- Under Channel Swimming Association rules, she wore only a swimsuit, hat, and goggles, with wetsuits prohibited.