Paramedic prepares for challenge of a lifetime when he swims across St Brides Bay
This Sunday, September 8, parademic Liam Murphy will be embarking on one of the toughest challenges of his life as he attempts to swim across the treacherous waters of St Brides Bay.
His swim begins in Martins Haven at 8 am and will continue across the Bay until he reaches Caerfai, near St Davids; with an expected northerly wind and favourable weather conditions, he is hoping to complete the swim in around five hours.
Liam will be swimming the 15 km route without the comfort of a wetsuit and by adhering to the same strict regulations which are used by swimmers crossing the English Channel. He is also mindful of the unpredictability of the treacherous currents in Jack Sound and between Martins Haven and Skomer Island.
"In an ideal situation, I could swim it in five hours, covering around three km an hour, but I've absolutely no idea if this is going to happen on Sunday," Liam told Pure West Radio.
"I know of only two people who've swam this section before, so I've got very few past experiences to go on.
"I've been planning the swim for a couple of years and I've chosen this date specifically because of the tides."
Liam will be leaving at 8 am, with the high tide arriving two hours later.
"This means I'll be making the most of the currents as they come in through Jack Sound between Martins Haven and Skomer Island, and they will hopefully push me into the middle of the bay and up north."
Jellyfish could also prove hazardous for Liam, particularly the Lions Mane, which bears the worst sting and has the longest tentacles.
Despite living in Swansea where he serves as a paramedic with the Welsh Ambulance Service, Liam has a wealth of knowledge of the coasts of Pembrokeshire having grown up here and worked as a life guard and a watersports instructor throughout his teenage years.
"I spent most of my childhood in Pembrokeshire, I went to Pembrokeshire College and I worked on the beaches as a lifeguard for many years, so coming back to the county to undertake this challenge seems like the natural thing to do," he continued.
"Back in 2019 , when I was off sick with PTSD as a result of some of the horrible things we have to deal with in our work, my counsellor suggested that I started setting myself personal challenges such as swimming long distances.
"One day I looked at the map of Wales, trying to decide which challenge to do next, and I was instantly drawn to St Brides Bay."
Liam will be using the swim to raise money for the Noah's Ark Appeal after his 12-year-old nephew was seriously injured in a cycling accident earlier this summer.
"At the start of the summer holidays, he had a cycling accident near his home in Newport, Gwent He came off his bike, he was knocked unconscious and was taken to the Children's Hospital in Cardiff where he remained in a coma for several days. It was the Noah's Ark Appeal that helped him, and this is why I'm trying to raise at least £1,000 to thank them for everything they did for him."
The little boy has fortunately made a strong recovery and returned to school this week to start his new academic year.
"To anyone reading this story, please, please wear a helmet when you're cycling," stressed Liam. "It would have certainly prevented my nephew from going through all that he had to endure this summer."
Having overcome his own personal battles with PTSD, Liam knows just how important challenges can be in helping individuals move forward.
"They don't need to be big challenges," he continued. "Even the simplest things such as stepping outside of your house, can be a massive undertaking for some people. But by setting yourself that incentive to keep moving forward, it will help to take your mind off things, it will help you to start believing in yourself and this could then lead on to even bigger achievements. I've known people who've rowed the Atlantic and who've built castles to help overcome their own personal issues, but I also know someone who was finally able to go to her supermarket and shop after being unable to step outside for three years."
Liam will be accompanied on his swim by a support boat, however his regulations will prevent him from making any contact with the vessel during the swim.
"I'm aiming to eat around 600 calories an hour via a bottle which will be attached to the end of a fishing net that they'll reach out to me with poles. So this is going to be something of a challenge in itself."
His energy will be sourced by high calorific chocolate flapjacks and lots of energy drinks.
"But when I stop to chew, I'll be getting cold and will possibly get pushed backwards by the current. So I'll have to try and eat as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I'm not going to deny that the anxiety is now starting to kick in, because I don't want to let anyone down. I've set myself the target of raising £1,000 for The Noah's Ark Appeal, and I'm determined to achieve this."
Meanwhile, after Liam completes the St Brides Bay challenge on Sunday, one can't help wondering what his next challenge may be.
"I have some ideas, as there's a lot of untapped territory down here in Pembrokeshire," he said.
"But I have no interest in swimming the English Channel as I don't want to follow in other people's footsteps. I want to tread my own path."
To follow Liam this Sunday, visit his Facebook page - Liam Murphy - where you can find the Track RS link as well as details of his Justgiving page.
To hear his full interview with Pure West Radio's news director, Sarahjane Absalom, tune in to last Monday's Sport Show with Eaton-Evans & Morris Solicitors.
Paramedic prepares for challenge of a lifetime when he swims across St Brides Bay
This Sunday, September 8, parademic Liam Murphy will be embarking on one of the toughest challenges of his life as he attempts to swim across the treacherous waters of St Brides Bay.
His swim begins in Martins Haven at 8 am and will continue across the Bay until he reaches Caerfai, near St Davids; with an expected northerly wind and favourable weather conditions, he is hoping to complete the swim in around five hours.
Liam will be swimming the 15 km route without the comfort of a wetsuit and by adhering to the same strict regulations which are used by swimmers crossing the English Channel. He is also mindful of the unpredictability of the treacherous currents in Jack Sound and between Martins Haven and Skomer Island.
"In an ideal situation, I could swim it in five hours, covering around three km an hour, but I've absolutely no idea if this is going to happen on Sunday," Liam told Pure West Radio.
"I know of only two people who've swam this section before, so I've got very few past experiences to go on.
"I've been planning the swim for a couple of years and I've chosen this date specifically because of the tides."
Liam will be leaving at 8 am, with the high tide arriving two hours later.
"This means I'll be making the most of the currents as they come in through Jack Sound between Martins Haven and Skomer Island, and they will hopefully push me into the middle of the bay and up north."
Jellyfish could also prove hazardous for Liam, particularly the Lions Mane, which bears the worst sting and has the longest tentacles.
Despite living in Swansea where he serves as a paramedic with the Welsh Ambulance Service, Liam has a wealth of knowledge of the coasts of Pembrokeshire having grown up here and worked as a life guard and a watersports instructor throughout his teenage years.
"I spent most of my childhood in Pembrokeshire, I went to Pembrokeshire College and I worked on the beaches as a lifeguard for many years, so coming back to the county to undertake this challenge seems like the natural thing to do," he continued.
"Back in 2019 , when I was off sick with PTSD as a result of some of the horrible things we have to deal with in our work, my counsellor suggested that I started setting myself personal challenges such as swimming long distances.
"One day I looked at the map of Wales, trying to decide which challenge to do next, and I was instantly drawn to St Brides Bay."
Liam will be using the swim to raise money for the Noah's Ark Appeal after his 12-year-old nephew was seriously injured in a cycling accident earlier this summer.
"At the start of the summer holidays, he had a cycling accident near his home in Newport, Gwent He came off his bike, he was knocked unconscious and was taken to the Children's Hospital in Cardiff where he remained in a coma for several days. It was the Noah's Ark Appeal that helped him, and this is why I'm trying to raise at least £1,000 to thank them for everything they did for him."
The little boy has fortunately made a strong recovery and returned to school this week to start his new academic year.
"To anyone reading this story, please, please wear a helmet when you're cycling," stressed Liam. "It would have certainly prevented my nephew from going through all that he had to endure this summer."
Having overcome his own personal battles with PTSD, Liam knows just how important challenges can be in helping individuals move forward.
"They don't need to be big challenges," he continued. "Even the simplest things such as stepping outside of your house, can be a massive undertaking for some people. But by setting yourself that incentive to keep moving forward, it will help to take your mind off things, it will help you to start believing in yourself and this could then lead on to even bigger achievements. I've known people who've rowed the Atlantic and who've built castles to help overcome their own personal issues, but I also know someone who was finally able to go to her supermarket and shop after being unable to step outside for three years."
Liam will be accompanied on his swim by a support boat, however his regulations will prevent him from making any contact with the vessel during the swim.
"I'm aiming to eat around 600 calories an hour via a bottle which will be attached to the end of a fishing net that they'll reach out to me with poles. So this is going to be something of a challenge in itself."
His energy will be sourced by high calorific chocolate flapjacks and lots of energy drinks.
"But when I stop to chew, I'll be getting cold and will possibly get pushed backwards by the current. So I'll have to try and eat as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I'm not going to deny that the anxiety is now starting to kick in, because I don't want to let anyone down. I've set myself the target of raising £1,000 for The Noah's Ark Appeal, and I'm determined to achieve this."
Meanwhile, after Liam completes the St Brides Bay challenge on Sunday, one can't help wondering what his next challenge may be.
"I have some ideas, as there's a lot of untapped territory down here in Pembrokeshire," he said.
"But I have no interest in swimming the English Channel as I don't want to follow in other people's footsteps. I want to tread my own path."
To follow Liam this Sunday, visit his Facebook page - Liam Murphy - where you can find the Track RS link as well as details of his Justgiving page.
To hear his full interview with Pure West Radio's news director, Sarahjane Absalom, tune in to last Monday's Sport Show with Eaton-Evans & Morris Solicitors.