Blesma Amputee Swim Team to Cross the English Channel Again

Four Blesma members, the only all-amputee team to swim the English Channel, repeat their success with a record-breaking crossing

Can you help them fundraise for Blesma limbless veterans?

The former forces team, each missing a leg, consisting of Craig Howorth, Jamie Gillespie, Stephen White, and Conrad Thorpe created history by becoming the only team of limbless swimmers to cross the English Channel twice. The team repeated their epic endeavour of 11 years ago when they set a record as the first all-amputee squad to make the crossing.

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Amputee Swimmers Completed The Challenge 

The former forces team, each missing a leg, completed their epic crossing just after midnight today (Thursday) after 14 hours and 40 minutes in nine-foot swells and swimming through a ‘wall of jellyfish’ on the daunting 25-mile route.

The swimmers, all members of Blesma, the Limbless Veterans, set an astonishing record in 2014 when they swam in relay across the Channel to challenge attitudes towards disability and inspire injured people to become active.

“We were the first to do it and decided it would be a great idea to try it again but we are all 11 years older and two of us are over 60s, and it was a really tough crossing,” said Steve White, from Shotley, Suffolk, who is team leader and deputy chairman of Blesma’s board of trustees.

“The conditions were warm and benign when we set off but we then encountered six foot swells for most of the crossing and periods when it was nine foot  with 20mph gusts of wind and we really got pushed around. It was really challenging and during one of my swims I hit a wall of jellyfish for an hour, which wasn’t fun.

“It was very tough and out of seven boats that set out at the same time with cross-Channel swimmers only three made it. We are exhausted but glad we got it done. We wanted to give it another go because it says something about living your life as amputees and doing things regardless of your age or condition.”

The rules outlined by the Official Channel Swimming Association do not make any special exemptions for amputees.

In 2014, when the team first took on the challenge, they became the first team of amputees to successfully swim the English Channel, setting a new world record. By taking on the English Channel again, they hope to exceed the £4,000 raised in 2014.

We were the first to do it and decided it would be a great idea to try it again. The challenge is that we are all 11 years older and two of us are over 60 so it will be a tough task, and now we have the added challenge of swimming at night

Steve White

The attempt, sponsored by family-owned development, building and property maintenance company Wates Group, is expected to raise around £15,000. It was originally scheduled last year on the 10^th anniversary of the crossing but had to be cancelled because of bad weather.

Eoghan O’Lionaird, Chief Executive Officer of Wates Group, said: “The Blesma team have once again made history with their incredible achievement and I, along with everyone else at Wates, sincerely congratulate the team on their Channel swim success and continuing to redefine what’s possible - regardless of age or condition.

"Many may have called it a day after the original swim was postponed due to bad weather last year. Their commitment and determination to complete the challenge has been truly inspirational and I’m thrilled they’ve now accomplished it. It’s an honour to have supported them and the work Blesma does in their mission to transform the lives of injured service personnel across the UK.”

Meet The Amputee Swim Team

Craig Howorth (57)

Craig is a right leg below-the-knee amputee after losing his leg in a road traffic accident in 2006. Craig had previously served as a submariner in the Royal Navy from 1988 to 1993. He lives in Bacup, Lancashire and now works as a trail leader for Military Mountain Bikers.

Jamie Gillespie (50) 

Jamie was serving as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers when he was involved in a road traffic accident and lost his left leg below the knee in 1994. He was discharged from the Army in 1995 and has since retrained as a prosthetist and is living in Watford.

Stephen White (60)

Stephen was serving as a Rifleman with The Royal Green Jackets when a cruciate knee injury led to him losing his left leg above the knee. Stephen was discharged from the Army in 1987 and has since become a Chief Executive. He lives in Shotley, Essex.

Conrad Thorpe (61)

Conrad Thorpe grew up in East Africa and went on to represent Kenya at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. He later spent 21 years in the Royal Marines, where he was selected to serve with the elite Special Boat Service, completing missions around the globe before retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A running injury to his ankle eventually  led to an elective amputation in 2011. Conrad was introduced to the swim team by Jamie Gillespie, his prosthetist. Today, he is the Chief Executive of one of Africa’s top risk management and security companies.

Watch how their swim across the English Channel went in 2014

We are doing it to help inspire others and to raise funds for Blesma and that is plenty of motivation alongside our personal determination

Stephen White

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Page updated on 7 July