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Daring Dan aiming to swim the Atlantic Ocean
Dan Martin will brave the shark-infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean wearing nothing but trunks and a swimming cap as he attempts one of the greatest ever achievements of human endurance.
Dan Martin will brave the shark-infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean wearing nothing but trunks and a swimming cap as he attempts one of the greatest ever achievements of human endurance.Extreme athlete Dan (28), of Haddon, near Peterborough, will begin his attempt to become the first person to swim across the Atlantic unaided on May 8, in a 1 million fund-raising epic to help orphanages around the world.
And the titanic 3,600-mile swim marks just the first leg in what he is calling "The Global Triathlon", an 18-month adventure that will see him cycle across Europe and Asia and trek across North America.
No human has ever swum across the Atlantic without the help of wetsuits, snorkels and shark cages, but Dan will attempt the feat wearing only a swimming cap, trunks and Vaseline as he swims for eight hours a day over four months through tropical storms and shark and jellyfish-infested waters.
But these will not be the biggest dangers, as Dan explained: "The main danger will actually be the cold, as I'll be swimming for eight hours in water that's about eight to ten degrees at times, which is definitely going to take its toll.
"And to ward off sharks I'll be wearing an electro-magnetic pulse gadget on my foot that will give them an unpleasant shock if they get within five metres of me!
"I'm still busy organising everything, but I'm pretty excited about it at the moment."
In order for him to survive the ocean, Dan will have to put on weight to increase his buoyancy.
With a 6ft 5in frame, Dan has already put on an incredible 7st 10lbs over the last year, currently weighing in at 21st, and he needs to be 24st by the time he sets off from his starting point in New York."
By the time he returns, he will weigh just 13 stone.
He said: "I haven't really had a diet, I've just eaten whatever I like really.
"But I've had to get into some bad habits to ensure I can make the weight: I skip breakfast and snack a lot, as well as eating just before I go to bed. I eat seven meals a day at the moment. Swimming doesn't strain the joints as much as running and cycling though, and I'm obviously keeping fit. My heart and lungs are as healthy as anyone's."
It is not the first time that self-confessed "extreme athlete" has set off on amazing trips of stamina, as he has previously completed two bike rides to Cape Town, in South Africa, first from London and then from Korea.
Through these trips he has set up his own charity, The Dan Martin Foundation, which raises money for the orphanages he stops at along the way.
The Global Triathlon will be a far greater challenge than his bike rides, and he will set off from New York swimming alongside a boat, which will carry a support team and cameraman.
And when he told his parents, Sue and George Martin, what he would be attempting, they greeted the news with a mixture of disbelief and concern, but also pride.
George said: "Of course we're worried as parents, but this is what he wants to do and we have got to support him as best we can.
"We definitely think he can do it, he certainly has the determination and the physical ability."
Global positioning software will be used to ensure Dan starts in the same position every day as he crosses the Atlantic, before he finally hits land at Brest, in France.
From there he will cycle across Europe, through the frozen tundra of Siberia, before crossing into Alaska.
The former Stamford School student will then walk from Alaska to New York, and hopes to take part in the 2011 New York Marathon as the final leg of his journey.
He added: "Eighteen months away from home is a long time, I think I'll miss British chocolate and sweets, Ribena, Marmite and real ale the most!"
A member of Peterborough Area Combined Triathlon and Athletic Club (PACTRAC), his strict training regimen has seen him swim in the English Channel, the North Sea and off the Irish coast, not to mention thrice-weekly visits to Oundle swimming pool.
Dan still needs to raise 100,000 to cover the costs of the triathlon and would appeciate any corporate sponsorship. He also wants to hear from any Peterborough school wanting to fund-raise on his behalf as he looks to raise 1million for his foundation, which will give every penny to orphanages in the countries he visits.
To sponsor Dan, you can contact him by emailing dan@danmartinextreme.com.
or visit www.danmartinextreme.com for more information.
The list of greats
SHOULD Dan Martin succeed in his attempt to be the first human to swim the Atlantic unaided, he will join a pantheon of trailblazers who have tackled the ocean:
In 1952, Frenchman Alain Bombard became the first person to make the 3,600-mile crossing in a rubber dinghy.
Briton John Fairfax made headlines in 1969 when he became the first to row across the ocean single-handed.
Another Frenchman Remy Bricka took 64 days to ski across on polyester floats in 1988.
British windsurfer Jason Gilbert went from Newfoundland to Dorset in a three-man team in 1998.
Last year, three North American "artists" and their three dogs took on the challenge as they sailed across in a 50ft boat made from junk.
But the first man to officially swim across was Benoit Lecomte, who in 1998 swam from Cape Cod to France. However, he was aided by the use of eight wetsuits, snorkels and flippers, whereas Dan will have none of these to help him!
Dan Martin will join a list of greats if he manages the amazing feat of swimming across the Atlantic Ocean. Picture: ben davis.
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