Elizabeth Denyer of Townsville completes swim of English Channel

With no fanfare, a Townsville woman stripped down to her swimsuit in frigid, foggy weather and realised a dream of swimming the English Channel.

Townsville University Hospital radiation therapist Elizabeth Denyer, 49, centre, completed the epic 34-kilometre solo swim across the English Channel in 12 hours and 58 minutes on August 21. Picture: Supplied

With zero fanfare, a Townsville woman stripped down to her regulation swimsuit in foggy, 14-degree weather, plunged headfirst into frigid waters and realised a long-held dream of swimming from England to France.

Townsville University Hospital radiation therapist Elizabeth Denyer, 49, completed the epic 34-kilometre solo swim across the English Channel in 12 hours and 58 minutes on August 21.

Though the time was about three hours longer than initially expected, Denyer enters the record books as one of less than 2000 people to complete the journey across the world’s busiest seaway.

She joins compatriots Trent Grimsey, who holds the record time of 6:55, and legendary long-distance swimmer Chloë McCardel who has made 44 solo crossings.

Speaking from her Garbutt home on Monday, Denyer described herself as a “keen amateur, average swimmer” who had been planning to conquer the channel since 2017 when she lived in London but had suffered a shoulder injury.

Townsville long-distance swimmer Elizabeth Denyer with her English swim coach, Tim Denyer, who is not related, after swimming across the world’s busiest seaway. Picture: Supplied

Townsville long-distance swimmer Elizabeth Denyer swimming across the English Channel on August 21. Picture: Supplied

She said she returned to Townsville for successful surgery but when plans were advanced for an attempt in 2020, Covid struck.

“By the end of 2022, we knew it was going to be open in 2023.”

Townsville long-distance swimmer Elizabeth Denyer and friend Julie Box conditioning in 10-degree water. Denyer said she was apprehensive about the crossing given the lack of cold-water training options in tropical Townsville, saying she had to resort to swimming in the unheated pool at Ignatius Park College in the dark at 4.30am. Picture: Supplied

Townsville long-distance swimmer Elizabeth Denyer’s epic English Channel crossing on August 21. Picture: Supplied

Denyer said she was picked up by her support crew aboard Viking Princess II in Dover and shuttled to her departure point of Samphire Hoe.

“This was about 2.15am, I think it was about 14 degrees, that was the outside temperature but the water when I got in wasn’t too bad (18 degrees),” she said.

“I think on the day, the adrenaline kicked in and I didn’t really notice the cold, the water was 18 degrees but if it was even one degree colder it would have been more difficult.”

Denyer said she swam strongly for the first six to eight hours before entering the first shipping channel.

Townsville long-distance swimmer Elizabeth Denyer off the French coast near the end of her 13-hour journey. Picture: Supplied

“I did ask my crew where the ships were then and they were like ‘oh, well, you can’t see them because of the fog’, which was interesting.”

She said hopes of swimming the channel in under 10 hours dissipated along with the fog.

“By the time we got to the second shipping lane the fog had cleared a bit but then that south-westerly wind picked up a bit and slowed me down.”

Denyer said she also began cramping at about the eight-hour mark as the length of the swim increased as she was buffeted of course.

“My legs cramped up again when I went to get onto the beach (in France) so I kind of had to crawl a bit and then I managed to stand.”

Townsville long-distance swimmer Elizabeth Denyer swimming across the English Channel crossing on August 21. Picture: Supplied

She said the crossing bought a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

“It’s amazing to have finally done it, it’s a relief, I’m really pleased.”

Denyer thanked her support staff in Europe as well as the Townsville swimming community for helping her realise her dream.

“I’ve had so much support along the way and I am really grateful.”

Denyer, who has not trumpeted her achievement over social media, raised $1500 for Angel Paws for abandoned and rejected animals during her swim.

The swimmer, who has also swum the Strait of Gibraltar, says she is eying a potential Triple Crown, which in addition to the English Channel includes the sharky Catalina Channel in California and the 46-kilometre circumnavigation of Manhattan Island in New York City.

Originally published as Elizabeth Denyer of Townsville completes swim of English Channel