A FORMER pupil from Mount House School has become the first man to swim at both North and South Poles in water so cold it kills most people in less than three minutes. Lewis Gordon, 36, defied this fact and completed the swim in 18 minutes and ten seconds wearing only Speedo trunks, goggles and a swimming cap. Professor Tim Noakes, head of the team said that Lewis is able to survive in these waters as his core body temperature is extremely high at 38.4 degrees Celsius and is able to keep this temperature for up to 15 minutes. He added that most importantly Lewis has an iron will and is genetically suited to extreme cold. Lewis plunged into the icy waters off the Antarctic Peninsula to break the world record for the most southern long-distance swim ever undertaken. He swam 1km in water at 0 degrees Celsius and said that as soon as he dived in he had screaming pains all over his body. After three minutes Lewis said he had lost all feeling in his hands and after six minutes he had lost all feeling throughout his arms and legs. When Lewis was ten he and his family emigrated to South Africa where he became an eager sea-swimmer. Lewis is now living in London and is a maritime lawyer.
