Social worker to take a spin in the Corryvreckan for charity

THE swirling whirlpool waters of the Gulf of Corryvreckan are renowned as being among the most fearsome in the world, but fund-raiser Rohan Beyts is planning to take on the challenge in a swim for charity.

The 56-year-old social worker from Aberdeen, who almost drowned as a child, is hoping not only to raise money for the John Muir Trust but also to overcome her own personal fears.

She said: "I can swim fairly well but I haven't done much real sea swimming, certainly not since I was a kid. The only problem is that unlike in the pool, in the sea I have a problem putting my face in the water. I blame it on a near drowning experience when I was four."

The Corryvreckan has a long and dangerous history. Situated between the islands of Jura and Scarba, off the west coast of Scotland, the whirlpool nearly claimed the life of author George Orwell.

Legend has it that the strait is named after the Norse king, Breacan, who attempted to impress a local princess by sailing close to the waters. He was swept into the whirlpool and his body was later dragged to shore by a dog.

This phenomenon is created by an underwater pinnacle that forces the fast-flowing water upwards towards the surface. As the tide flows faster round one side of the pinnacle, it catches the upwelling and creates both whirlpools and turbulence.

Cameron Smith, co-founder of Coastal Connections, the company which will be in charge of safety on the day, said: "The Corryvreckan is extremely dangerous. Most days it would be impossible to swim across. Not only are the tides extremely strong but you also have to look out for jellyfish so we will be taking extra precautions on the day."

Beyts will undertake the 1.1km swim on 23 August during a 40-minute window of slack water.

She will undertake a gruelling training regime in the lead-up to August, spending hours in the pool and planning three wild water swims in preparation for the Corryvreckan challenge.

She said "I'm very aware that swimming in the cold sea is so much more tiring than in a warm swimming pool so there's lots of work to do."

Beyts hopes to raise over a thousand pounds for the John Muir trust, a charity dedicated to the conservation of Scotland's natural habitats.