On August 13 2023, British endurance swimmer and environmental activist Lewis Pugh started his 315-mile (507-km) swim down the Hudson River, from its supply at Lake Tear of the Clouds, to its finish at New York Metropolis. He completed the swim, ‘exhausted however rejuvenated’, on Wednesday, September 13, at Battery Park. Pugh made the epic swim to boost consciousness of water high quality.
The 53-year-old endurance swimmer emerged from the water off the decrease tip of Manhattan after a month-long journey, clad in a Speedo, cap and goggles. He smiled and raised his fist in triumph as he climbed out. Supporters who had gathered regardless of mild rain cheered.
“Rivers are the arteries to our planet and if we’re going to have a wholesome planet we have to have wholesome rivers,” he stated.
“All I might assume as I used to be swimming in the direction of the Statue of Liberty is each single factor we maintain expensive to ourselves depends on us having the ability to drink clear water and breathe contemporary air and deal with our planet so it’s liveable,” he added.
The BBC studies that Pugh timed his arrival in Manhattan, residence of the United Nations Headquarters, to coincide with the countdown to the 2023 UN Normal Meeting and the United Nations’ ratification of the Excessive Seas Treaty.
Pugh stated he swam for the reason for “clear, contemporary water and rivers”, including: “It was an unimaginable problem and as we speak I’m feeling completely exhausted however I’m additionally feeling extremely motivated.”
He stated traditionally the Hudson was “so badly misused” that it was one of many world’s most polluted rivers however {that a} “mile by mile” mission to wash it up had yielded “superb” outcomes.
He stated his swim would have been not possible 50 years in the past as he would have “simply obtained too sick”.
The latter half of Pugh’s swim was on the Hudson estuary, the part of river affected by the tides that stretches from New York Harbor to above Albany. He tried to swim with the tide, however he stated wind and uneven water might make progress harder.
“Think about driving down a dust street which has been corrugated, and that that’s the sensation once you’re swimming into this chop for hour after hour after hour,” he stated earlier than swimming a latest leg.
Pugh is thought for swimming throughout the North Pole in 2007 with the intention of highlighting the melting of the Arctic sea ice. In 2018 he swam the full size of the English Channel.
