Despite sickness and bicycle failures, a new record has been set for swimming Lake District lakes in the quickest time.

It is no easy feat to swim the 13 bodies of water in the Lake District in just three and a half days but Danny Longman, an evolutionary biologist, did just that.

He was joined by Tom Elliot, 28, until their final swim across Windermere when he was struck down with sickness.

Tom had completed the previous 12 swims in just swimming trunks, a hat, and goggles.

Danny, 32 from Cambridge, said: “I am delighted to have set a new fastest known time for swimming all 13 lakes, especially having had major shoulder surgery following a ruptured muscle earlier this year.

“A particular highlight for me was Coniston – feeling the sun on my back and seeing the mountains beyond the forests was spectacular.”

The pair swam the 13 publicly accessible waters, meres, and lakes and travelled between them by cycling.

In doing so, they set a new record for completing the monumental challenge in the fastest time.

Tom, from London, remarked: “We had found little evidence of attempts to swim the length of all the Lakeland lakes, with even fewer people attempting to complete this challenge in a short time; plus we planned to use human power to travel between the lakes.”

They began their journey from Ullswater and quickly made their way across Brothers Water, Elterwater, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Derwent Water, Bassenthwaite Lake, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Loweswater, Wastwater, and Coniston.

Paul Flint, who supported the swimmers, said: “Any thoughts of a fun in the sun experience were soon dispelled by 6am deadlines to get them in the water, safety kayaks lugged to and from shorelines, over 300 miles of driving, high energy drinks mixed to fuel the swimmers every half hour, and the depressing regularity of rain.”

Tom issued an open call for people to attempt to complete the challenge in three days. Although, he expects it to be done without a wetsuit.