Former AFL hardman Campbell Brown begins English Channel swim for Shane Warne Foundation

EX-AFL hardman Campbell Brown had to be pulled out of the sea in his attempt to swim the English Channel and raise more than $100,000.

EX-AFL hardman Campbell Brown had to be pulled out of the sea in his attempt to swim the English Channel and raise more than $100,000 for The Shane Warne Foundation.

A sudden change in weather led to rough seas at 3.20pm local time (12:20am AEST).

Brown said he was ok to continue but captain overruled him after he had effectively been standing still for three hours. He made it two/thirds of the way.

“We shouldn’t have really been out there so Campbell definitely shouldn’t in the end,” said Gerry Dowd.

The challenge took its toll after Brown’s wife Jess, who has a pre-existing heart condition, needed urgent paramedic attention on arrival at shore (briefly shown in background of video clip).

Fears were finally dispelled after a thorough examination.

HARD HITS: IRISH RECALL CAMPBELL BROWN’S INTERNATIONAL BUMPS

The 31-year-old Brown, who has been training for the fundraiser over the past 18 months, began his voyage in the murky waters of Dover just after 6am (AEST) as the sun was coming up.

Covered in goose fat, he made off in bullish fashion hoping to make the 34km to Calais, France, in order to raise as much money as possible for the charity that supports seriously ill and underprivileged children.

“I had a bit of a sleepless night but I’m feeling confident and ready to go now,” he said as he boarded the boat out of Dover Marina, where he was taken to nearby shore to begin his challenge.

“The weather conditions are unbelievable; it’s sunny it’s flat, it’s perfect. I’ll get a fair bit of sun on my back too which is good.”

Campbell Brown starts his English Channel swim at Dover in England. Picture: Lachlan Spark

Brown was forced to bide his time over the last five days waiting for the all-clear to do the swim due to wind changes and changeable weather but says he kept himself busy.

“I’ve just watched a lot of cricket, Wimbledon, and visited some tourist sites but can’t wait to get started now.”

He has already gone over his target of $100,000 with more hopefully to be raised.

The former Hawthorn and Gold Coast footballer is expected to be swimming in the Channel for around the next 15 hours — a feat that would no doubt be among the best he has achieved in his life.

In getting ready for the big swim, “Browndogg” has packed on over 10kg to his already substantial frame which he hopes will help counteract the effects of the cold sea, currently 16C having warmed up due to the recent heatwave.

During his lengthy training regime following his retirement from AFL in December 2013, Brown has undergone numerous long pool sessions, cold mornings in the Port Phillip Bay, endured too many jellyfish stings to remember, and has also had to overcome injury concerns.

Even suffering with tendinitis in his right shoulder from over-training five weeks ago has not dampened his spirit. With the aid of a cortisone injection, anti-inflammatories and some good management have all meant Brown was fit for the swim.

Campbell Brown hopes to raise at least $100,000 for The Shane Warne Foundation.

But the biggest threat to Brown, according to his father and AFL legend Mal, is hypothermia. “Only around 15 per cent of people make the swim across the channel and the main reason people fail is due to hypothermia,” he said.

“And with Campbell a slow swimmer it could take him around 15 hours.”

He continued: “I hope he knows what he’s let himself in for. He’s put himself under a lot of pressure to do this so we all just hope he can.”

Perhaps more worryingly for Brown — and something he no doubt would not have expected to come across in the UK — was the apparent spotting of a shark just 25 metres from shore at nearby Herne Bay (48km from Dover) at the start of the month, sparking panic in the sea and beach.

The good news for Brown, though, was that the shark had no interest in swimmers, according to eye witnesses. He will hope it stays that way if it’s still in the Channel.

In any case, Mal just shrugged off those worries. “I think that’s the least of his worries,” he added.

FOLLOW THE SWIM ON CAMPBELL’S TWITTER FEED

Originally published as Former AFL hardman Campbell Brown begins English Channel swim for Shane Warne Foundation