A BASINGSTOKE man has succeeded in swimming the English Channel in aid of a charity close to his heart.

On Thursday, July 1, at 9.08pm, after an exhausting 18 hours and 15 mins swim, 42-year-old Greg Johnson completed the challenge.

He set off for France at 3am to tackle the 21 mile swimming challenge.

Although he swam the first 20km in 6.5 hours, the tide and current worked against him, deviating his course and prolonging the endurance challenge further.

After summiting Everest two years ago, Greg, who is originally from Basingstoke and attended Cranbourne School, has been training to complete the gruelling Peak to Pond (Everest and English Challenge) combo.

He moved to Perth, Australia seven years ago with his wife, Julz and son, Oscar - an ideal place to train for triathlons and these lifelong goals.

Speaking to the Gazette, Greg’s sister Jasmine Steel, 44, said: “I am so proud of him, it’s an amazing accomplishment.

“I followed him on the tracker, as there was a boat alongside him, and in some ways I found it quite emotional watching him swim on his own for hours, but I always had every confidence he would do it - he’s a fighter!”

Greg was given special permission to fly to England from Australia to complete the charity challenge to support Lifeline, a charity which provides telephone assistance to those who are feeling suicidal and struggling with mental health problems.

He felt this was a particularly worthy cause in these mentally challenging times, and the challenge forms one part of his campaign “Beneath the Sea”.

Jasmine added: “He really had that analogy that when people are feeling suicidal, they feel lost and isolated, like they are in the middle of the sea on their own for hours.”

Greg has raised $3,344 AD so far and is hoping to raise $4,000 to help Lifeline train another volunteer call operator.

Suicide is sadly one of the leading causes of death in young adults in Australia, the UK and the US and one more volunteer call operator could help to save many more lives at a time when they may feel lost at sea.

To support Greg’s cause, visit: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/243700/english-channel-2021