Endurance swimmer and UNEP Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh has completed the world’s first swim across the Red Sea.
Pugh swam from Tiran Island in Saudi Arabia to Hurghada in Egypt to highlight the vulnerability of coral reefs due to the accelerating climate crisis.
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The swim was timed to coincide with COP27, where world leaders will gather at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for the UN Climate Conference.
There, Pugh will be urging all nations to drastically cut their emissions, to tackle the climate crisis and protect the world’s oceans. He will also call for at least 30% of the world’s oceans to be protected by 2030.
Pugh completed the 123-kilometre swim in 16 days, swimming between six and 12 kilometres per day.