Andy Donaldson, a British-Australian ultramarathon swimmer, decided that a nice relaxing dip in the Ord River in remote Western Australia would be a perfect way to spend 11 hours and 51 minutes. Never mind that the river is home to 5,500 freshwater crocodiles - roughly one for every 10 metres of his 55km Dam to Dam Challenge from Lake Argyle to Kununurra.
Just to set the mood, a 2.5-metre freshwater crocodile was waiting at the start ramp, as if to say, 'You sure about this, mate?' Fortunately for Donaldson, freshwater crocs are the shy, introverted cousins of the saltwater variety - the world's largest reptiles - and generally prefer not to snack on humans. Still, the swimmer admitted it was 'a bit nerve-racking' to be in open water with wildlife that included eagles, ospreys, turtles, and 'big catfish' (because who isn't terrified of a big catfish?).
Donaldson's team had done their homework, and he never felt threatened. 'Fear is a mile wide and an inch deep,' he philosophised, adding that if anything looked threatening, they'd 'pull the pin' because they wanted to share positive messages, not negativity and fear. So, basically, they had a solid exit strategy involving not being eaten.
He completed the swim in a record 11 hours and 51 minutes, beating Simone Blaser's 2024 time of 16 hours and 13 minutes - who, by the way, was part of his support crew. Because nothing says 'support' like the person whose record you're smashing handing you a water bottle.
Donaldson described the swim as 'magical,' praising the ancient gorges, red cliffs, and spectacular sunrise. He's swum in Hawaii, Greece, and Croatia, but declared this the best swim ever. 'It's the most beautiful place for swimming I've ever experienced,' he said, presumably while ignoring the 5,500 reptiles with teeth.
The conditions weren't all sunshine and crocs: the Kimberley sun hit 34°C, support boats had to provide shade, and the lack of salt in the freshwater reduced buoyancy, making his legs drag like anchors. An unexpected headwind and a section of 'dead water' with no current added to the fun. But with a support team that included a skipper, a paddler, and a coach, he made it to Swim Beach by 5.29pm, where local swimmers joined him for the final 200 metres.
'These challenges are never achieved alone,' Donaldson said, noting that the team's energy picked him up when he faltered. 'These marathons are similar to the marathons of life where, if you want to pursue something, you can go a lot further when you have great people around you.' And preferably not a lot of crocodiles.