A lover of extreme challenges took on crossing the channel to raise money for Action for Family Carers, in memory of his grandmother.

Thomas Risley-Duhrsen, 35, of Anchorage Lane, Heybridge, attempted the swim from Dover to Calais last Tuesday, raising £600 in the process.

He was pulled off route by a current towing him miles from his original destination.

He said: “I thought I was swimming alright, but the strong current started taking me towards Normandy.

“It was supposed to take 13 hours and it would have taken over 20.”

After 11 hours in the water and facing another nine to get back on track, Thomas aborted the challenge, but not without vowing to give it another go.

He said: “I started at 4am, in pitch black, following a little light on the boat.

“I came up with the idea last year, I did a double iron man challenge and after that the only thing to do is swim the channel.

“i felt pretty good afterwards but now I’m knackered, after going back to work.

“I’m going to do it again.”

To donate visit: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/thomasrdswim