Out Of The Hospital And Back To Dryland
Courtesy of Cameron Bellamy, Barbados to St. Lucia.
After 56 hours 26 minutes
On Sunday September 15, about 5pm local time in St Lucia, renowned South African ultra-endurance athlete, Cameron Bellamy, completed the longest recorded channel swim in history. He left the picturesque shores of the West Coast of Barbados at 8:20am on Friday, September 13th, and arrived 56 hours and 26 minutes later on St Lucian shores, touching a rocky outcrop on the ragged coastline of St Lucia’s southern tip, after a harrowing finish to the 151K swim.
Cameron has a long and rich sporting resume, having been awarded numerous world records in multiple sports. He was the 11th person in history to conquer the Oceans Seven (swimming’s equivalent of the Seven Summits), he has rowed across the Indian Ocean, earning 2 Guinness World Records, and, in November last year, swam around the island of Barbados, the longest circumnavigation swim in history.
Having grown up relatively privileged in Cape Town, South Africa, and noticing the inequalities around him, especially in terms of education, Cameron passionately completes all his endurance challenges to raise funds for an educational charity he founded in 2011. The Ubunye Challenge focuses on Early Childhood Development in rural South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Caribbean.
For the entire 56+ hours of the Barbados to St Lucia swim, Cameron did not once touch a boat or another person. He battled through severe sleep deprivation; unimaginable swelling of, and resulting pain from, his tongue, lips and mouth, commonly referred to as ‘salt” mouth; acute overheating in the unforgiving Caribbean sun and the fatigue of swimming longer than anyone else in history.
Cameron told us: “The toughest part of the swim for me was the second day leading up to the middle part of the swim. There was absolutely no wind, the air temperature must have been in the mid 30’s and water temp around 30 degrees. I was feeling dizzy and weak and, if it wasn’t for the encouragement of my amazing support crew, I think I might not have made it further. Once I had St Lucia in my sights, after swimming through the 2nd night, I knew I could make it and pushed myself further than I could ever have imagined.”
Cameron had to fight a strong adverse south-moving current for the last 1 mile of his swim. After expending the last of his depleted energy reserves, he touched rocks attached to the shore, signifying the successful conclusion of the swim. Cameron swam to a rubber dingy, was lifted on board by 3 support crew and then taken to his main support boat, ‘Imagine’. Cameron, unable to walk and talk, and only semi-conscious, was treated inside the cabin until the boat docked in Vieux Fort. There the Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet, accompanying Cameron’s Mother, boarded the boat to see Cameron.
Cameron was eventually taken by speed boat to the northern capital town of Castries where he was admitted to the Tapion Hospital. He was treated for severe muscle breakdown and toxicity of his blood, swelling of the mouth and sunburn. He has since been discharged to the care of his mother and support crew.
Cameron Bellamy – Endurance Athlete
15 hrs ·
Finally, after leaving the hospital yesterday afternoon, I’ve had some time to reflect on the 56+ hour epic swim from Friday to Sunday in a more positive setting.
It’s been amazing reading all the comments and messages from around the world. Makes this feel extra special. Thank you to everyone for following my swim and sending words of encouragement.
The toughest aspect of this swim was the heat, both water and air. On the second day leading up to the middle part of the swim there was absolutely no wind, the air temperature must have been in the mid 30’s and water temp around 30 degrees C. I was incredibly dizzy and weak and, if it wasn’t for the encouragement of my amazing support crew, who instantly noticed my plight and acted by handing me a lot more ice in my drinks and shortening my time between feeds, I think I might not have made it further.
Once I had St Lucia in my sights, after swimming through a relatively cooler 2nd night, it was a different story. I knew I could make it and pushed myself further than I could ever have imagined. With about 1km to go, the tide was against us and it meant an agonizing push to a rocky outcrop attached to the shore beneath a majestic cliff. An amazing place to complete the swim.
Upon completion, I swam back to a rubber dingy, was lifted on board by 3 support crew and then taken to the main support boat, ‘Imagine’. Unable to walk and talk, and only semi-conscious, I was treated inside the cabin until the boat docked in Vieux Fort. There the Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet, accompanying my mom, boarded the boat for a very emotional and teary reunion.
I was eventually taken by speed boat to the Northern Capital of Castries, admitted to the Tapion Hospital and, since, treated for severe muscle breakdown and toxicity of my blood, swelling of mouth area, and sunburn. Thankfully, I was discharged midday yesterday.
Apart from the company of family and friends and hearing support from around the world, one of the main things that has got me through the hospital stay was watching Sarah Thomas- Open Water Marathon Swimmer finish her quadruple English Channel. Sarah, along with the amazing Chloe McCardel – Marathon Swimmer, are inspirations to me, in the water and out. They define what is best about our sport. The tips they have given me over the last 2 years on training and feeding have defined the way I trained for this swim.
Thank you again to everyone who has assisted me in this journey. My family and friends have been incredible supportive. Of course, I once again could not have done this without my amazing Barbados family.
As many of you know, I started the The Ubunye Challenge in 2011 with the aim of assisting early childhood development causes in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Every swim and row I do I do so in the name of Ubunye, raising money for these causes so close to my heart. Note that I fund the swims and rows I do 100% on my own. For this swim we are raising money to provide internet access and tablet learning to our early childhood development sites in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. We are also helping the AC Graham Development Centre in Barbados, which is an amazing facility providing educational and therapy support to special needs children, and the United Through Sport charity in St Lucia, aimed at teaching children and youth to swim.
For more information and to donate, please go to: https://ubunye.web.app/
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