Oscar Black completes solo North Channel swim from NI to Scotland

A 15 year old has become the youngest swimmer to complete the North Channel swim from Northern Ireland to Scotland solo.

Oscar Black, from Lurgan, County Armagh, swam from the Gobbins to Portpatrick last Wednesday in 16 hours and 38 minutes.

As the crow flies, the two locations are 35km (21.7 miles) apart but due to strong currents Oscar swam a total of 46km (28.5 miles).

The Lurgan College student said it was “hard to explain” the emotions he was feeling after his record-breaking swim.

When he was 14, he completed the channel swim as part of a relay team.

He told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme that he had to overcome jellyfish, strong currents and swimming in the wrong direction to set a new record.

He had up to 20 jellyfish stings, “all over my body, from my feet to my nose”, he said.

“There was a few times when I was contemplating why am I doing this,” he added.

“It was more of a mental challenge than an actual physical challenge.”

But Oscar says “it was all worth it in the end”.

Jessica Robson was Oscar’s support swimmer for the challenge.

She said it was her job to “get in and swim with him to make sure he was sane”.

“It was a very emotional swim to watch,” she said.

“I got in with him from hour four to five and hour eight to nine.

“I had to swim into Scotland with him as he started going the wrong way.”

After finishing the open water swim and standing upright on the shore in Scotland, Oscar found out that he had to swim back to the boat.

Due to shallow water, the boat was unable to dock close to the shore.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was tired and exhausted,” he added.