Kilmaley Man Sets Guinness World Record For Underwater Dive

Sports - Other Sports

Tuesday, 29 November 2011 11:41

Written by Pat Flynn

An underwater dive undertaken out by a Co Clare man last month has been confirmed as a new Guinness World Record and also raised over €14,000 for the Share a Dream Foundation.

40-year-old Civil Defence diver Christy Healy completed the challenge on his second attempt becoming the first man ever to undertake a 10km underwater swim/dive without surfacing.

The records and evidence collected by the appointed teams on the day were submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records Office at the end of October. Now, Christy has received his confirmation certification from Guinness after those records were closely examined, adjudicated and confirmed.

While several records exist for time spent underwater, the Guinness Book of World Records has told Christy that his 10 km underwater dive/swim is a first and a new record.

"After the set back a few weeks earlier, I was determined not to be beaten. It’s a great feeling to finally have the certificate in my hands. I am very grateful to everyone, the team and all my supporters who contributed to this great charity helping us to raise in excess of €14,000 which will go towards making more dreams come true for the fantastic children across Ireland,” a delighter Christy said yesterday.

His original effort, in the wild Atlantic near Doolin earlier in early October, was scuppered by a mixture of poor weather which left Christy just 600 metres of his 10km target. Christy moved his second attempt to the calmer waters of the Lough Derg.

A flotilla of boats, carrying snorkelers, rescue divers, paramedics, navigators, observers and support personnel, travelled 15km out into the lake where Christy was deployed in the water. He submerged and did not surface until he received the signal that he had reached his 10km goal exactly 6 hours and 21 minutes later.

Christy chose the Share A Dream Foundation as the beneficiary for the charity event in recognition of the support they provided to his family while his son Stephen was ill. Stephen (18) was only recently given the "all-clear" from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after being diagnosed in 2010.

Shay Kinsella, founder of the Share A Dream Foundation, said: “Christy is a fantastic man to attempt this world record once again in only three weeks. His determination and strength totally identifies with the children we work with who are battling everyday of their lives with illness."