'Human polar bear' becomes first to complete Everest swim marathon

Lewis Gordon Pugh, 40, swam 1km across a glacial lake on the slopes of the world's highest mountain wearing only a trunks, goggles and a swimming hat.

The adventurer, who uses his record-breaking endurance swims to raise awareness of climate change, hopes his latest feat will draw attention to the melting of Himalayan glaciers and the resulting dwindling water supplies in the

region.

Dubbed the "human polar bear" for his ability to survive extreme cold, Mr Pugh plunged into Pumori Lake near the Khumbu Glacier, at an altitude of 5,300 metres, and completed the swim in 22 minutes and 51 seconds.

Mr Pugh, who swam in Antarctica and across the North Pole to draw attention to melting sea ice, not only had to contend with water temperatures of 2C for his latest challenge, he also battled altitude sickness.

He said: "It's one of the hardest swims I've ever undertaken. When I swam in Antarctica and across the North Pole I swam with speed and aggression but on Mount Everest you can't use the same tactics. Because of the altitude you need to swim very slowly and deliberately.

"Swimming 20 metres at full speed in the test swim, I felt I was going to drown. I was deeply concerned that I wouldn't make 1km.