This article is from page 7 of the 2011-09-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
BAD weather scuppered a Kilmaley man’s attempt to become the first person to complete a 10k swim underwater at the weekend.
Christy Healy had been due to set of from Doolin pier on Saturday morning in an effort to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. However stormy weather conditions forced Christy to call off the swim. He now intends to take on the challenge on October 2.
“We had to cancel it. We met Thursday and we waited again until Friday but the weather was a disaster,” explained Christy yesterday.
He added, “We’re planning to re-organise it for October 2, weather permitting.”
Having undergone a punishing training regime, Christy is now preparing to get back to work to make sure he is in top physical condition.
“Normally you’d train right up until the week before and then you’d stop so it’s not ideal,” Christy said.
Diving instructor Christy is taking on the challenge to raise money for the Share A Dream foundation. He was inspired to do after his family was affected by cancer.
In March 2010 Christy and wife Trish’s son Stephen, then aged 17, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphoid tissue, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen and other organs of the immune system. Christy explained that this news delivered a severe blow to the family and led to a stressful period of uncertainty and concern. Thankfully, after six months of chemotherapy and a kidney opera
tion, Stephen has
been given the all
clear. An experienced
diver, Christy as
sists Clare Civil
Defence as a
search diver as
well as owning and
managing Atlantic
Diving School in
Ennis. In order to
achieve his world
record attempt Christy must remain underwater for the entire swim from Doolin to Crab Island. An open circuit system must also be operated. This means that the air used from the tanks when exhaled will be released into the ocean as opposed to being re-circulated. Christy will carry a 12-litre tank of air on his chest. Each tank will last for 60 minutes or 1.8km approx and will then need to be changed, whilst remaining underwater each time it empties.