Australian swimmer Michael Redford, son of the late Des Redford swam across the English Channel on this day, on what would have been father’s 80th birthday. Des swam across the Channel on 19 occasions, and this was the first time that Michael had emulated his father’s extra ordinary feat.

Michael was swept slightly of course on several occasions, which slowed him down somewhat but he still managed to make the swim in 12 hours and 10 minutes.