The Oxford Orcas, a team of six swimmers, succeeded in crossing the English Channel as a relay this weekend – leaving Dover in the dark at 1.14am on Saturday 27th September and hitting France 17 hours and 4 minutes later.

Congratulations to the team - who together have now raised over £40,000 for the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Critical Care Unit.

The swimmers were Consultant, Dr Michael Carter and Lead Education Nurse, Rosie Priddy, who both work on the unit, as well as the Trust's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Andrew Brent, Sarah Vaccari from Oxford Hospitals Charity, and supporters Hazel Shaw and George Middleton. CLICK HERE to sponsor the team

Months of training followed by a waiting game...

They’ve been training for the Channel challenge since January, swimming in the sea and local lakes to pass the two-hour sub 15 degrees swim endurance tests required by the Channel Swimming Association.

Michael Carter, consultant on the unit explains: “Originally the team had a slot to swim in mid-July, but we were ‘weathered out’ - with lightning and high winds meaning it wasn’t safe to take on the challenge.

“Since then, we have been on standby - continuing all our training and with bags packed, poised to take up the next available slot to swim the Channel.”

Finally, last week they got the call and on Saturday morning at 1.14am Andrew Brent stepped into the sea from Samphire Hoe, near Dover, to start the twenty one mile swim.

Andrew said: “It was an honour to be the first swimmer, setting off with the White Cliffs of Dover behind me. We’ve all been training for a long time, and swimming under a clear night sky with the lights of the boat as my beacon was sublime. It was an amazing event and I’m so proud of all that the team achieved.”

The swimmers were accompanied by the Channel Swim boat, Masterpiece, with each swimming for an hour at a time on rotation, passing container ships, dodging jellyfish, and coping with the chilly 16-degree waters - all without wetsuits.

Swimming in the dark in choppy seas

Rosie Priddy, Lead Education Nurse in Paediatric Critical Care added: “The first few hours in the dark were a bit choppy, meaning we had to work extra hard to power through, especially those like me, battling seasickness, but as we approached France the waters calmed and conditions were perfect.

“As a nurse on the ward it was a privilege to do something so positive to help the families we care for.”

George Middleton, a friend of the clinical team, said: “I’m usually used to much warmer water, so swimming wearing just Speedos in sixteen degrees was a bit of a shock. After each swim we wrapped up in multiple layers, with hot water bottles, to get back to normal, but I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”

Sarah Vaccari, who is part of Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: “I feel so lucky to have been part of this amazing team. To swim in the middle of the Channel watching the sun rise is something I’ll never forget.

"As the oldest and least athletic of the team, this was a real challenge for me – but the cause is so important, and that was a huge motivator when it felt tough.”

Hazel Shaw from Oxford, swam the final leg - sprinting to land at Cap Blanc-Nez at 7.18pm local time.

The last push to France

She told us: “The final moments of our 17-hour relay swim couldn’t have been more beautiful – the sea had completely calmed, and the sun was setting. It’s an experience I will never forget.”

The team have now raised over £40,000 for the Paediatric Critical Care Unit, which will fund additional equipment and support for their young patients and specialist training for nursing staff. 

Congratulations to the team - our first ever Channel swimmers for Oxford Hospitals Charity.

Special thanks to...

There are quite a few costs involved in doing an event like this so we would like to say a big thank you to local companies, Breckon & Breckon and Minoli for kindly sponsoring this team's challenge, meaning every penny they raise goes directly to Oxford Hospitals Charity to help the Unit. 

Thank you also to Queenford Lakes Open Water Swimming and JMB Photography for their kind support of the swimmers.

And to all the amazing local companies who supported the team's raffle, which raised over £2,400 towards the final total.

There's still time to sponsor the team and if they've inspired you, why not visit our events page for challenge ideas to support your local hospitals? 

SPONSOR THE TEAM