Swimmer Braves Iceland's Fury for Baby's Arrival

Ross Edgley, an athlete known for extreme endurance feats, undertook a daunting 1000-mile swim around Iceland. This challenging expedition lasted 116 days in freezing waters, pushing his limits as he neared his 40th birthday. The pressure intensified as his partner, Hester Sabery, was pregnant with their first child during his year-long training. Edgley acknowledges his 'strange, feral' nature and his partner's understanding, which allowed him to pursue this mission while promising to return for the nursery.

His journey, documented for Channel 4, was fraught with peril. Edgley and his nine-person crew navigated treacherous conditions, including a volcanic eruption spewing lava to the west and Hurricane Erin to the east, alongside ice breaking off Europe's largest glacier to the north. Despite these obstacles, his primary motivation remained returning home for the birth of his son. He fulfilled his promise to his partner and unborn child, viewing the successful completion of his duties at home as the true finish line.

The expedition saw Edgley swimming approximately 12 miles daily, starting near Reykjavic and moving clockwise. He battled severe physical challenges such as hypothermia, tongue rot from saltwater exposure, and cellulitis from wetsuit chafing. A significant medical issue was rhabdomyolysis, where muscles break down, turning his urine dark like Coca-Cola due to myoglobin overload. This critical condition, occurring around 90 days into the swim, signaled his body's extreme strain.