Monday, October 5, 2009

Wheelchair user swims English Channel

From The Mirror in the UK:

A disabled woman who is unable to walk to the shops has swum the English Channel.

Wheelchair-bound Rosalinda Hardiman (pictured) tackled the 21-mile swim using just her arms.

During the swim she was badly stung by jellyfish and had to "tread water" without the use of her legs as helpers passed her food.

Rosalinda, 57, from Portsmouth, Hants, made it to France in 20 hours and 17 minutes.

She said: "This is a longterm dream for me. There is a lot of prejudice in swimming once people look at the wheelchair.

"I have waved the flag to say, 'Do not discount us'.

"We may not be able to walk to the shops or run for the bus, but there is a lot we can do."