Last updated 15:11, Monday, 14 July 2008

A FURNESS mum-of-two has defeated the odds to successfully swim the English Channel.

MASTERSTROKE: Vicki Thompson, who has crossed the channel. Inset, at her day job in Barrow’s Dock Museum in 2003

Vicki Thompson arrived in France last night after completing the 21 mile swim in 15 hours, 10 minutes.

The 40-year-old is believed to be the first Barrovian to have swum the channel crossing.

Mrs Thompson said: “I am a bit stiff, but other than that I am just absolutely delighted. After about 10 hours, I thought I want to get out, but I just had to carry on because I knew it was something I had to do. I am just so glad that I have done it and I can say I have done it.”

Her initial attempt was due to take place on Saturday, but harsh weather conditions meant she had to postpone the swim for another 24 hours until safety officials gave her the green light.

She set off at 10.30am yesterday from Samphire Hoe, Dover and reached Calais at around 10.30pm.

But the attempt did not go as swimmingly as Mrs Thompson had hoped. When she was just a mile away from reaching land, the tide began to pull her back.

Mrs Thompson, of Lorne Street, said: “I was frightened because you hear all of these horror stories about people being just a mile away and then being dragged down by the water. Apparently I was swimming and just not getting anywhere, but I did not realise.”

Spurred on by members of her support boat, Dave Dixon, Harry Smith and Steve Smith, Mrs Thompson braved the choppy sea and strong tide to make the channel crossing.

The tide conditions are estimated to have added an hour on to the time it took for Mrs Thompson to complete the swim. Mrs Thompson was greeted by a French welcoming committee who congratulated her on the successful swim.

She then travelled on her support boat to meet her family, husband Mark and teenage daughters Erin and Shona.

She said: “They are really proud of me and what I have achieved because they know how hard I have worked to do it. I have had loads of messages of support and I just can’t thank everyone enough.”

Mrs Thompson has been in training for the channel swim for 18 months. During this time, she has also been fundraising in order to gain the £3,000 she needed to fund the attempt.

Her proud father, Jeff Wadsworth, of St Vincent Street, Barrow, believes his daughter is possibly the first Barrovian to have ever swum the channel.

He said: “I am so proud of her, I am sure she is the first to have done it. She must be the first to have completed it self-financed, anyway. She has done it all herself and deserves recognition for the brilliant achievement.

“Me and her mum have been phoning everyone we know telling them about it.”

Mrs Thompson and her family are staying with relatives in the south of the country this evening and plan to celebrate her remarkable feat.

She said: “I have never been so ill in my life but I am looking forward to tonight. We are having a bit of a barbecue and I think a few bottles of champagne are in order.”

Mrs Thompson’s swim has also helped to raise around £1,000 in sponsorship money for the Barrow RNLI.