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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Slovenian completes Amazon swim | Slovenian completes Amazon swim |
| (3 days later) | |
| A Slovenian man has battled piranhas, alligators and exhaustion to become the first person to swim the entire length of the Amazon river. | |
| Martin Strel, 52, completed the 5,265-km (3,272-mile) marathon in 66 days when he neared Belem, 2,440km north of Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday. | Martin Strel, 52, completed the 5,265-km (3,272-mile) marathon in 66 days when he neared Belem, 2,440km north of Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday. |
| Mr Strel, known as "fish man", was suffering dizziness, nausea, diarrhoea and sunstroke as he neared the end. | Mr Strel, known as "fish man", was suffering dizziness, nausea, diarrhoea and sunstroke as he neared the end. |
| He has previously completed the Yangtze, Mississippi and Danube. | He has previously completed the Yangtze, Mississippi and Danube. |
| Route, distances and original schedule of the Amazon swim | Route, distances and original schedule of the Amazon swim |
| Doctor's orders | Doctor's orders |
| Mr Strel formally completed his epic achievement four days ahead of schedule, averaging 52 miles a day. | Mr Strel formally completed his epic achievement four days ahead of schedule, averaging 52 miles a day. |
| The BBC's Gary Duffy in Brazil says this was Mr Strel's most formidable challenge to date. | The BBC's Gary Duffy in Brazil says this was Mr Strel's most formidable challenge to date. |
| The Amazon is the world's largest river, and the second longest. | The Amazon is the world's largest river, and the second longest. |
| It is home to piranhas, alligators, bull sharks and anaconda snakes, while other dangers included whirlpools, tidal waves and armed bandits. | |
| Mr Strel ignored doctor's orders to complete his task. | Mr Strel ignored doctor's orders to complete his task. |
| KEY CITIES EN ROUTE Iquitos: Largest city in Peruvian rainforestManaus: Brazilian former rubber town with grand theatreMacapa: The Brazilian city lies exactly on the Equator | KEY CITIES EN ROUTE Iquitos: Largest city in Peruvian rainforestManaus: Brazilian former rubber town with grand theatreMacapa: The Brazilian city lies exactly on the Equator |
| Martin's son, Borut, confirmed the swim had finished: "He's hit point zero." | Martin's son, Borut, confirmed the swim had finished: "He's hit point zero." |
| "There will be a ceremony on Sunday in Belem, but he finished today," he told Associated Press news agency. | "There will be a ceremony on Sunday in Belem, but he finished today," he told Associated Press news agency. |
| Martin Strel set three previous long-swim records, starting with the 3,004km Danube in 2000, then the 3,797km Mississippi in 2001 and the 4,003km Yangtze in 2004. | Martin Strel set three previous long-swim records, starting with the 3,004km Danube in 2000, then the 3,797km Mississippi in 2001 and the 4,003km Yangtze in 2004. |
| Guinness World Records said it would take a few weeks to confirm the record. | Guinness World Records said it would take a few weeks to confirm the record. |
| On Thursday, during a break in his attempt, Mr Strel said the ocean tides were so strong they were sometimes pushing him backwards. | On Thursday, during a break in his attempt, Mr Strel said the ocean tides were so strong they were sometimes pushing him backwards. |
| He added: "I think the animals have just accepted me. I've been swimming with them for such a long time that they must think I'm one of them now." | He added: "I think the animals have just accepted me. I've been swimming with them for such a long time that they must think I'm one of them now." |
| Mr Strel said he was at times in so much pain, "I could not get out of the water on my own". | Mr Strel said he was at times in so much pain, "I could not get out of the water on my own". |
| He said: "Once, they had to take me to the hospital to check my heart. But everything turned out OK." | He said: "Once, they had to take me to the hospital to check my heart. But everything turned out OK." |
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