Mr Pugh, a veteran long-distance swimmer, is attempting the insane journey to raise awareness of environmental issues. Speaking of global warming, he commented:

I'm hoping my swim down the River Thames will bring the message home that we all have to do what we can to prevent this global catastrophe.

Those who read our previous post may have spotted the deliciously morbid irony here. Man helps prevent global catastrophe by immersing himself in cold, fecally tainted water for 15 days, surrounded by the greatest mob of migrant waterfowl in south-east England. Oops, bang goes that species barrier.

Assuming he’s thought of that, and packed his Tamiflu, it’s something like 200 miles from start to finish. He’ll be knackered. Especially if he rounds Greenwich Peninsula only to find the Thames Barrier raised. Let’s hope he’s practiced treading water and dodging surge tides.

If he’s looking for a real challenge, though, and perhaps a new client or two for his law firm, may we suggest the Regents Canal. The waterway enjoys a much more exciting collection of flotsam and jetsam, as our picture attests.

Image by M@.