An Australian has set a new world record for the longest surfing session.
Blake Johnston (40) broke the existing record when he spent 30 hours and 11 minutes on the water off south Sydney’s Cronulla beach.
As BBC News reports, Johnston had ridden over 600 waves when he was given a quick medical check-up and eye drops at lunchtime on Friday.
He had recorded 40 hours on the board, surfing 700 waves, when he finished.
The former professional surfer and distance runner risked jellyfish stings, possible shark attack, sleep deprivation, hypothermia in his attempt.
Possible blindness, ear infections and dehydration were also factors he had to take into consideration when making the attempt.
Sydney surfer, Blake Johnston was back at Cronulla beach today, less than 24 hours after making global headlines for his remarkable 40 hour surf record. @WesternWilson9 #9News pic.twitter.com/GMezZj63Jc
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) March 18, 2023
He told journalists he was “pretty cooked” when he continued to surf after breaking the world record.
He has raised 240,000 Australian dollars (151,000 euro) for the Chumpy Pullin Foundation, established in memory of Australian Olympic snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin who drowned off the Australian Gold Coast after he set out spearfishing in 2020.
Monies he had raised will also go to mental health charities, partly in tribute to his father who took his own life a decade ago.
Read more on BBC News here
