Man Becomes First To Swim At North Pole

(AP)  A British explorer has braved sub-zero temperatures to become the first person to swim at the North Pole.

Lewis Gordon Pugh took to the freezing waters on Sunday to highlight the devastating impact of climate change on the natural world.

It took him 18 minutes and 50 seconds to swim 0.6 miles in waters created by melted sea ice at temperatures of 29°F — the coldest a human has swum in.

"I am obviously ecstatic to have succeeded but this swim is a triumph and a tragedy," the 37-year-old British lawyer said after coming out of the water.

"A triumph that I could swim in such ferocious conditions, but a tragedy that it's possible to swim at the North Pole."

Pugh said he hoped that his swim will make world leaders take climate change seriously.

"The decisions which they make over the next few years will determine the biodiversity of our world," he said.

"I want my children, and their children, to know that polar bears are still living in the Arctic — these creatures are on the front line up here."

Swimming has given him a unique perspective on climate change, Pugh says on his Web site.

"I have witnessed retreating glaciers, decreasing sea ice, coral bleaching, severe droughts and the migration of animals to colder climates.

"It's as a result of these experiences that I am determined to do my bit to raise awareness about the fragility of our environment and to encourage everyone to take action."

Calling it the hardest swim of his life, Pugh said Sunday that the water was black when he jumped in.

"It was like jumping into a dark black hole. It was frightening. The pain was immediate and felt like my body was on fire," said Pugh, who's an ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund UK.

"I was in excruciating pain from beginning to end and I nearly quit on a few occasions."

Colin Butfield of WWF UK called the challenge "a bittersweet victory, as this swim has only been possible because of climate change."

Pugh is known for his epic swims in waters from the Antarctic to the Indian Ocean.

His ability to raise his body temperature in anticipation of a swim in cold waters has intrigued top sports scientists and has earned him his "Polar Bear" nickname.

[mercyme884]

what an IDIOT! he proved nothing except that he's a stupid crackpot.

[hp1740-2009]

Ha Ha! I accept that he owns setting the smallest *&%$ record:)

[andrewsk8s]

...and simultaneously broke the record for the smallest *** also.

[hp1740-2009]

Bottom line - I don't care that it is reported that he did this but it is disingenuous to claim to be THE FIRST to do this. He is NOT the first to do this by a long shot.

[hp1740-2009]

Ok it's like saying while Charles Lindberg was the first to fly across the north Atlantic, someone else was first to cross the south Atlantic later except that the south Atlantic trip was 30% shorter in time and distance traveled. Or while Neil Armstrong was the first person to step on one side of the moon another guy was the first to step on the the other side - again later on. Who cares. The guy is not the first to do this. Not impressed.

[ob2007-2009]

He is not the first person to swim at the North Pole. I was attached to the USCGC Polar Sea and we were the first US surface ship to make it all the way to the North Pole in 1994. The CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent a Canadian Coast Guard Cutter and a Russian icebreaker,the USSRS Yamal were there also. A group of people from the three ships took a swim behind the prop wash area of the Yamal. I do not know who was the first in, but I do know that there are many witnesses.

[octavianfdlr]

Congratulations, Lewis Gordon Pugh, on trying to make world leaders take climate change seriously. Perhaps if a few of them were droppend in 290F water, they would stop yacking about global warming, and start worrying about global cooling.

We are experiencing an interglacial. The ice ages are not over. Global temperatures have decreased remarkably over the last millenium (since the Medieval Optimum). An ice sheet over a mile thick still covers what was once a verdant forrest in southern Greenland.

Despite the recent warm spell, the ice will return.

[staceybeil]

Um, do you people know how to read??? He swam in the Artic (not Antartica) - although he has ALSO swam in Antartica. He was the first to swim at the NORTH POLE not the SOUTH POLE. He was the first to swim in water that was 29 DEGREES F which is LOWER than 32 DEGREES F. Now you know why most people could never make it through law school.

[hp1740-2009]

Thats like saying Chuck Yeager was the first man to break the sound barier over the desert but someone else did it first over the forest. Stupid.

[Chillybee]

hp1740,

I don't think AP needs to check their facts...this time. However, you need to check your geography because if I'm not mistaken, Lynn Cox swam in Antartica. And I always thought that Santa lived at the North Pole, not the south pole. But then again, with the price of real estate, maybe he's headed south!