Northumberland ex-pat completes iconic 12-mile swim in Australia

A former Northumberland man has completed a 12-mile swim off the coast of Australia.
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Ex-pat Chris Ormston, who lived in Thropton until 2007, swam from Cottesloe beach, near Perth, to Rottnest Island.

He was among 2,400 people taking part in the South 32 Rottnest Channel Swim, regarded as one of Western Australia’s iconic events, on Sunday, February 21.

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Setting off from the mainland at 6.10am, he arrived on Rottnest at 2.47pm, completing the swim in eight hours and 37 minutes – and avoiding the perils of jellyfish stings along the way.

Chris Ormston with the Northumberland flag in Perth, Australia.Chris Ormston with the Northumberland flag in Perth, Australia.
Chris Ormston with the Northumberland flag in Perth, Australia.

The swim is done solo with a boat and a paddler in a kayak accompanying each swimmer.

His parents, Jim and Carole, who still live in Thropton, sent in a picture of Chris proudly waving a Northumberland flag.

“He takes it to the Formula 1 in Melbourne and the cricket and the tennis, plus Anzac Day and Australia Day, but this one was extra special for us,” they said.

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