On Sunday, 13 July, Michael Cunningham from Llandeilo Graban in Radnorshire took on the Bantham Boomerang Swim, organised by charity Level Water.

The 7km swim is a unique up and back swim where the tide helps push you up the estuary and back in with the tide, hence the boomerang name.

Having raised £500 last year for the Level Water charity by doing a 10km swim down the River Dart, Michael wanted to raise double that amount by taking part in the Bantham Boomerang swim this summer in South Devon.

Level Water do great work in helping disabled children get into the water and believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn to swim and fall in love with the water.

Footage from the Bantham Boomerang 2022.

Every £15 raised by the charity helps a child into the water.

On his reasons for doing the swim, Michael said: “I really love swimming and I wanted to see how far I could swim really. I saw a social media post about Level Water and realised they do some great work helping disabled children and I like raising money, I like swimming and this felt like a safe way also of swimming a long distance at an organised event.

“Last year I raised £500 doing the River Dart swim, and so this year I thought I would try and raise £1,000.”

Michael spends his time training in the River Wye and despite a wardrobe malfunction, the Llandeilo Graban man enjoyed the Bantham Boomerang. He told the Brecon & Radnor Express: “It was a hard swim. The first bit really swooshes you round as the tides coming in and you’ve got to really swim to keep up with everyone, especially as you don’t want to be last!

“It goes up and down the estuary, up with the tide and down with the tide, but you still have to swim like crazy. It’s a really well organised event and they had over a thousand swimmers take part over the weekend.

“Halfway through I suffered a bit of chaffing on my arms from the wetsuit, so removed it and handed it over to a marshal and swam the other half (3.5km) in skins and that was cold for sure but I’m glad I finished it.

“I was shattered afterwards and received a golden ticket for the money raised, as well as some goggles, some flapjack and a hot chocolate. You’re with the other swimmers and it feels so great rejoicing with all these people, some that you’ve made friends with during the swim too.”

This year, Michael has raised £743 so far from completing the Bantham Boomerang for Level Water and says that he would like to reach the £1,000 mark.

He is eyeing up swims for the future and is potentially taking part in the the Hurly Burly Swim, also organised by Level Water in Barmouth, Wales.

If you would like to donate to Michael’s just giving page please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/mike-9trees-cunningham-2.

Link to Level Water: https://www.levelwater.org