Courtesy of Rottnest Channel Swim, Rottnest Channel, Western Australia.

Swimming the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel is an extraordinary achievement, but it doesn’t come without serious risks. Anna Brotherson was a first time soloist in 2017, but at the 18 km mark she fell unconscious and began to sink.

Her story highlights the danger of swimming induced pulmonary edema (SIPE), a condition you can hardly prepare for, but if your crew know the signs of your struggling, it could just save your life.

For more information on SIPE, visit the Rottnest Channel Swim website here.

Copyright © 2018 by Rottnest Channel Swim Association