Amazing feat of endurance

Antony Stewart -

Penny Palfrey was emotionally and physically exhausted, but still found the energy for a wave and a smile when she hit land.

The Townsville super-swimmer yesterday became the world record holder for the longest solo unassisted ocean swim when she conquered the 108km between Little Cayman Island and Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean Sea.

Palfrey, almost unrecognisable when she touched dry land, took 40 hours and 41 minutes to cover a distance equivalent to swimming from Townsville to Ingham. It smashed the previous ocean swimming record of 101km.

The 48-year-old mother-of-three was unable to speak afterwards because her mouth and tongue were severely swollen, but she was still able to acknowledge the hundreds of people that greeted her on the beach, raising her arms in triumph.

That was the last thing she could offer before climbing on to a stretcher and being transported to hospital for observation.

Support staff said they expected Palfrey would be fine after plenty of rest.

The swim was as long and painful as could be expected as the Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee and multiple winner of the Townsville to Magnetic Island swim battled the elements and a few underwater frights.

Sharks twice came within about 10m of Palfrey, who was not protected by a cage, but fast-thinking crew kept them at bay. She admitted later that during the night she thought she may have kicked an inquisitive shark.

She was also stung three times by jellyfish.

Racked with pain at around the 30-hour mark, particularly in her shoulders, there were stages during the gruelling journey that even members of her support crew wondered if Palfrey could fight on. But she simply said: "We are going to make it, just be patient."

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