A MAN known for ultra open water swimming challenges has completed his toughest test yet.

Fenwick Ridley, from Corbridge, completed a swim up the River Tyne from Newcastle to Kielder, and across the reservoir, battling strong currents along the way.

The 34-year-old, who runs outdoor swim operator H2o trails, spent up to 12 hours a day in the water, while also pulling a raft stocked with essential kit behind him on the 60-mile swim.

Although he completed the swim in seven days, Fenwick said extra miles and time had been added on to his journey.

“It wasn’t meant to be as long as it turned out,” he said.

“But constant changing tides and weather conditions meant it was a lot more. I was averaging around 0.5mph in the water.”

An extra 1.3 kilometres didn’t deter Fenwick though, who has 15 years’ experience in open water swimming.

He said: “The swim has tested me both physically and mentally.

“I’ve had to use my body and mental capacity to the extreme every day to ensure I am achieving the goals that I set.

“Every day I woke up I was raring to get back into the water and swim closer to the finish line. It’s that drive that continues to spur me on.”

The swimming doesn’t stop there for Fenwick, after completing the length of the Tyne and North Tyne. He now plans to swim the South Tyne.

“Half way through the swim up to Kielder I realised I was able to and wanted to swim more,” he added.

He will embark on his swim up the River South Tyne in the coming weeks.

Fenwick has a Just Giving page set up for his adventure swim, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.

He has already raised more than £3,000.

The fund-raising is dedicated to his late friend Keith Garvin, who taught Fenwick to kayak and canoe.