Triple amputee and former Royal Marine completes new world record attempt for 1km open water swim
A former Royal Marine and triple amputee is thought to have set a new world record as the fastest person to swim 1km in open water using only one arm.
Mark Ormrod MBE beat the previous time by 25 minutes – but now has to submit all the evidence to Guinness to verify the record.
The swim took place this morning in Plymouth, where Mr Ormrod is from, and he completed it in 35 minutes.
Mr Ormrod told Forces News "it was pretty epic due to the water temperature but I knew with the team I had that we could achieve" the world record.
"It feels great to have broken the record especially on such a poignant day," he said.
"It's a great way to end the year."
As well as taking on the swim, the former Royal Marine also raised money for Reorg, a charity that aims to help people from the military and emergency services suffering from physical and psychological trauma.
He told Forces News the total raised from the swim is now "just over £660,000".
Alongside Mr Ormrod was Ben Wadham, another Royal Marine who also helped him with his training.
Mr Ormrod lost both his legs and right arm after he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve 2007.
Since then, he has taken on a number of challenges, including an open sea charity swim which raised £400,000 in the process.
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