Karen Ennis (53, Great Britain, MSF bio here, IISA bio here) summed up her message on her escort boat, “I am so sorry.”

Today simply was not her day across the Tsugaru Channel in northern Japan – which would have been her seventh of the Oceans Seven channels – to achieve goal is to become the first British woman to achieve the Oceans Seven and raise £100,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The 53-year-old looked cold from her escort boat as she explained her outcome – despite having completed two Ice Miles and six of the seven channels of the Oceans Seven while swimming around the world on behalf of the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, “I pulled something in my shoulder as well. But rest assure I will be back and we will do it next time. I am so sorry, guys. I gave it my all. I popped a muscle somewhere in my arm in very rough waves around hour 3. [It] made a pretty disgusting noise. I’m extremely proud of what I’ve achieved today as I kept going through some 5 knot currents. I’m just being taken to hospital for my arm.

I will be back.”

 To donate, visit here.

Update

Ennis writes, “What an epic day. It wasn’t my day today turns out I tore a ligament in my arm in the third hour. The currents then just didn’t play ball as I couldn’t increase my pace enough – I got to within 2 miles of land then just started flying backwards and sideways. I’m now strapped up with strict instructions from the Japanese doctor not to swim tomorrow. My crew were fabulous: Jane Smalley, Janet Wilkinson, Erin Quinlan, and Anthony Hardie. They remained positive and supportive during what turned out to be my only ever grumpy swim. I also want to give my eternal thanks to the pilot and observer who were tireless in their efforts to get me through. Suffice it to say. That was my hardest swim ever – but I’ll be back. I can and I will.”

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