Dr. Wade Turner of Winfield successfully completed the grueling swim of the Strait of Gibraltar in just under five hours on Sept. 5.

 

Turner’s wife Laurie, said his unofficial time, which she kept, was 4 hours, 52 minutes to complete the 12 to 14 mile swim. Distance is dependent on strength and direction of currents. The average temperature was 18-23 C depending on location in the water. When he finished, Turner told his wife he “couldn’t have made it another two minutes.” According to Laurie, Turner endured three to four foot swells and stretches of bad current. The facilitators wouldn’t let Turner break for nourishment or to rehydrate for a portion of the swim because the current was so strong. If he had stopped during that time, for every minute he was stopped, he would have been swept a quarter of a mile or more off course. Turner ended up having to take a longer route but made it to Africa in spite of the many challenges. Although Turner has completed his swim, he still hasn’t reached his fundraising goal for the physician recruitment fund at William Newton Healthcare Foundation

Posted in: Dr. Wade Turner of Winfield successfully completed the grueling swim of the Strait of Gibraltar in just under five hours on Sept. 5.