Swimmers break record with a single breath (From Surrey Comet)

Swimmers break record with a single breath

12:11pm Friday 25th July 2008 in

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Aquatic records were smashed last night as underwater swimmers used their breath holding skills to perform incredible feats of human endurance.

The Immersion Challenge held in the Malden Centre in New Malden saw free-diving club NoTanx members fight off the fear of drowning to break two national records.

Relative novice Alan Barber, 35, who works in Hook and started free-diving just 18 months ago, swam seven and a half lengths of the pool with a mono-fin on his feet, setting a new UK dynamic record. At 186metres, he stopped short of the 202 metres he was aiming for.

Debbie Millin, 25, from Wimbledon, set a new South African record of 78metres in the Dynamic No Fins category.

International free dive coach Marcus Greatwood who has already coached on four world records and eight national records warned of the dangers of repeating the superhuman feats in the bathtub.

He said: "Both guys were very strong tonight but that is because they felt safe in this environment. You should never try this without proper supervision."

The divers performed a series of exercises to slow their breathing, lowering their heart rate and making the swim easier.

Watch the record attempt video