I would like to thank Anton Fourie and my son, Robin, for their support as my swim team.  Eddie Spelling, my pilot, who has travelled so many miles with me. Dave, the 2IC, and Nathan Cox, the observer.  I have had the blessing of having a great team and crew and I know that everyone was disappointed when we could not make France.

I am going to tell my Channel swim story through the words of Kerry William Purcell,  a stranger until my swim.  Kerry has brought my swim to life for me. And the google earth representation, sent to me by Steve Klugman, (SA Channel swimmer 2002) with the times and positions of my swim.  Thank you for this precious gift of my channel swim.


Local: Fri 7 Aug 2009 20:07
Subject: Lydia Goldswain

Just to let you all know, Lydia Goldswain is due to set off on her
swim tonight (at 9pm) with Anastasia.

Lydia is aiming to be the first disabled South African swimmer to swim
the channel. Lydia was born spastic diaplegic and consequently has no
use of her legs when swimming. However, she has overcome this
condition with many great swims (Robben Island etc..). As some of you
may know, she has attempted the channel twice before. On her second
attempt last year, she swam for an incredible 21 hrs!

As she can't use her legs to tread water on feeds, Lydia and her crew
have divised an ingenious feeding method. A long pipe is thrown out to
Lydia and her feed is passed down it. Her feed is placed in a bag and
attached to the long pipe. The bag is placed atop of a pole, so
gravity does it's thing and the feed can make its way down the pipe (a
little bit like a hospital drip).

Lydia has said this is her last attempt.

I'll send updates as her swim progresses.

Cheers
Kerry

Fri 7 Aug 2009 22:21

It sounds like excellent conditions out there tonight. Virtually no
wind and very smooth. Lydia entered the water about 9:09pm (approx.).

Kerry

Sat 8 Aug 2009 01:41 

Lydia swimming for over 3 and half hours. Her feeds are going well.
Conditions still very good. No grumbles, just getting her head down
and going for it.

Sat 8 Aug 2009 05:06

Coming up to 7hrs. Lydia still going strong. The wind is picking up a
little and creating a small amount of chop. Lydia has been feeling a
little nausea, but nothing too bad. Managing to keep her feeds down
and her stroke rate hasn't dropped. If you want to follow Lydia's
progress, you can do so via the GPS on the boat.

Sat 8 Aug 2009 10:23

Lydia coming up to 12hrs swimming. Still going strong. Passed the half-
way point. At the half-way point she had one of the team place her own
personal "message to the channel" in a bottle and throw it
overboard! The message was simply a good-bye and thank you for all the
previous attempts.

p.s. Eddie, the pilot, played "God save the Queen" over the boat's loud speakers as the bottle went overboard! 

Had a bit of disaster in the night. One of the team lost the special
feeding pipe overboard! As previously noted, Anton devised this pipe
to enable her to feed because she can't tread water. However, the
pilot wouldn't allow him to dive in to retrieve it (obviously two
swimmers in the dark not a good thing). So now she is having to feed
with a bottle, which is very difficult, so she's not getting full
feeds at each stop. Also getting a little cold, but not really
complaining.

She is now swimming through lots of kelp. Anton on the boat said it's
like she is swimming over a newly cut lawn!

Lastly, one amazing thing, Lydia found two dolphins swimming alongside
her as the sun was coming up!

Come on Lydia!

Kerry

Sat 8 Aug 2009 12:36

Still going. Stroke rate is being maintained. Struggling a little bit
more with the feeds. Basically, Lydia is drifting away from the boat
when feeding. A little bit more of a chop. The crew on the boat think
that another 10hrs swimming before she reaches France.

Sat 8 Aug 2009 15:35

Lydia`s swim looks dramatic right now - being swept back far by the
tide after such good progress! Let's pray she can hold out and finally
push through the tide!

Sat 8 Aug 2009 16:30

Unfortunately, Lydia was pulled out of the water with 6 miles to go.

An amazing effort by a truly amazing woman.

Thank you for all the words of encouragement throughout the past
17hrs.

Many thanks
Kerry

Sat 8 Aug 2009 16:47

Just spoke with Lydia on the boat and she sounds fine. She was
informed by the pilot that the tide had turned and she should expect
another 10 hrs of swimming. After the herculean effort, she just
didn't think she had it in her.

Lydia once said to me that she didn't want to be treated as a
"Special" swimmer (in the sense of having disabilities). However,
today she has just demonstrated that SHE IS a special swimmer and
person to have done what she has done!

Maybe the channel hasn't seen the last of her just yet...

Cheers
Kerry 

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Lydia quits after brave 17 hour, 3rd attempt ..
Lydia made a brave 3rd attempt & has sadly quit at 17hrs. She has made peace with the channel & is greatful for the experiences she has had through her swims.

She was swimming on the spring which is the most difficult time to swim.

She had a couple of setbacks, one being the loss of her feeding tube and the other was having to swim into the current, although Lydia herself will not complain, these were big.

Well done to her support crew!

Lydia, you are an inspiration to us all, we are proud of you