The Brit endured sub zero temperatures to complete a the swim in the icy waters of Bellingshausen Sea with only a kayak for support
British endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh has swam in the waters off Antarctica to raise awareness about protecting the ocean.
The 47-year-old completed a 1km swim in the icy waters of the Bellingshausen Sea, along the west side of the Antarctic peninsula, wearing nothing but swimming trunks.
Lewis took on the incredible feat as part of his Antartica 2020 campaign, which calls for 7 million square kilometres of ocean around the continent to be turned into a protected marine reserve.
The vast area he is seeking to protect is roughly the size of Australia.
Lewis, who is also the Environment Patron of Oceans for the United Nations (UN), said: "I swim in these places to carry a message about what we are doing to our environment.
"There’s nothing more symbolic than swimming across a place, which used to be frozen over and now is open sea."
Enduring sub zero temperatures, Lewis completed the swim wearing only a pair of blue swimming shorts, goggles and a swimming hat bearing the logo of the UN Environment Programme.
Accompanied by a support crew, Lewis was followed in a kayak in case he needed any help while in the water, and a group was on hand to warm him up when he finished swimming in the freezing waters.
On his website, Lewis explains his decision not to use a wetsuit or drysuit in any of his challenges.
He said: "I ask world leaders to do everything they can to protect our environment.
"However, sometimes the legislation I ask them to enact is unpopular with the electorate.
"If I am asking them to be courageous, I must also be.
"Swimming in a wetsuit or a drysuit would not send the right message."
This is not the first time the Brit has swam in freezing waters to draw the attention of the world to protecting the oceans.
Last year he swam in the Bay of Whales, which also lies in the Antarctic Ocean's Ross Sea.
It is the most southerly point where man could swim - it is impossible to swim any further south in the world.
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