You can’t get the image out of your head for some reason. A fully grown, two-and-a-half-meter-long freshwater crocodile waits at the ramp like an odd welcoming committee as a lone man slides into the Ord River. Most people would have changed their minds. Andy Donaldson continued to swim. He continued swimming for nearly twelve hours.
The 35-year-old, who is currently based in Australia but was born in Irvine, Ayrshire, finished the 55-kilometer Dam to Dam Challenge along the Ord River in East Kimberley on a Tuesday morning that started in the dark and ended in the sweltering late afternoon sun. He took off at 5:38 a.m. and landed at 5:29 p.m. There are thought to be about 5,500 crocodiles in the waters he traveled through. A conversation can be abruptly stopped by that number alone.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Andy Donaldson |
| Age | 35 |
| Origin | Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Current Base | Australia (Scottish-Australian) |
| Profession | Ultra-marathon open-water swimmer |
| Existing Records | Three Guinness World Records prior to this swim |
| New Record | First male to complete the 55km Dam to Dam Challenge |
| Location of Swim | Ord River, East Kimberley, Western Australia |
| Distance | 55 kilometres |
| Time Taken | 11 hours, 51 minutes |
| Start Time | 5:38 am local time |
| Finish Time | 5:29 pm |
| Water Conditions | Inhabited by approximately 5,500 crocodiles |
| Air Temperature | Above 34°C |
| Support Team | Coach Brenton Ford, partner Eliza Kelly, coach Sam Ashby, Jay Prchal, Outback Tom |
| Notable Moment | Greeted at the start ramp by a fully-grown 2.5-metre freshwater crocodile |
| Route Highlights | Carlton Gorge, Jump Rock, Echo Point, Elephant Rock |
| Crowd at Finish | Around 200 spectators near Kununurra |
It’s difficult to ignore how casually he discusses it afterward. He claimed that cramps were “pretty much everywhere,” but there he was, giving locals who had waded in to swim the last stretch with him high fives. Long-distance swimmers have a kind of unyielding calm that is sometimes difficult for the general public to comprehend. They prepare for the pain. According to him, the crocodiles were essentially unimportant.
Naturally, this was not how the internet interpreted it. People who couldn’t decide whether to applaud or close the tab quickly shared clips of the swim. Remarks on his behalf fluctuated between praise and something more akin to real fear. As you watch it play out, you realize that there is more to the attraction than just the risk. The contrast is what makes it seem like a nice Sunday outing: red gorges, scorching heat, and a Scottish accent.
Prior to this attempt, Donaldson held three Guinness World Records. He claimed that the idea originated from an invitation to Kununurra from a local swim coach. He says that no dream is too big and that he wants to inspire younger swimmers. When athletes say things like that, it can sound practiced. It lands slightly differently coming from him, drenched, cramped, and beaming through it.
His team was exceptionally meticulous. Jay Prchal kept an eye on his hourly intake, Eliza Kelly, his partner, handled nutrition, and coach Brenton Ford directed strategy. Outback Tom, a local content creator assisting with the day’s documentation, was on the water with Tasmanian Swim Club head coach Sam Ashby. Before arriving at Swim Beach, which is six kilometers outside of Kununurra, Donaldson had to negotiate rapids, slip through Carlton Gorge, pass Jump Rock, Echo Point, and Elephant Rock, then cross the spillway.
The rubber crocodiles on his coach’s feet were the only ones he claimed to have seen. By all accounts, he just said the line, but it almost seems written. There were about two hundred people there to support him. The verification process for swims like this usually takes a while, so it’s still unclear whether Guinness will formally approve the record. ABC News reportedly contacted Guinness for comment.
As this story spreads, it seems as though we are unsure of how to handle accomplishments like Donaldson’s. They fall in between spectacle and sport. Whether it was brave or reckless will continue to be debated. He’ll most likely be organizing the next one already.
