From strong currents and seasickness to hypothermia and huge ships, the dangers of swimming the English Channel cannot be underestimated. But if there’s someone who is under no illusion of the risks involved with the gruelling 21-mile swim from Dover to France then it’s Methlick dad-of-three Simon Oakley. “Even though I’m a good swimmer, swimming the Channel is on another level,” says Simon.
“More people have climbed Everest than swum the Channel which just goes to show how tough it is. “It is dangerous, but there’s risks with everything.” ‘Be comfortable being uncomfortable’.
.. So how does a busy dad decide to take on one of the world’s most difficult swims? For Simon, it all began as a child growing up in Manchester.
“I wasn’t especially sporty as a child but I swam a lot right through to my university years, although not seriously,” says Simon. “But I stopped swimming for about 10 years when I moved up to Aberdeen to work at Fugro in Bridge of Don. “Life was busy as I was working, and I also got married and had kids, so they were a priority.
” It all started with an open-water swim at Knockburn Loch It wasn’t until 2017 when Simon took the plunge again, this time discovering a love of open-water swimming. “I started open-water swimming as an activity to complement my busy work at Fugro and family life at home,” says Simon. After attending a taster open-water swimming session at Knockburn Loch in Deeside, Simon, who works as a geophy.