‘We’ve been made to feel like heroes’: ‘Swim De Aky’ fundraisers cross English Channel

29 August 2025

A Federation member has revealed the true difficulties and demands behind swimming the English Channel, a challenge completed in memory of a late North Yorkshire Police Officer.

Dave Young was part of a successful four-man effort to relay across the full length of the Channel without stopping, in a gruelling journey which promises a minimum of 21 miles to cross.

Alongside former Force colleague Chief Inspector Kevin (Kev) Lacks-Kelly, and two teammates from outside of policing, Mark Baber and Nathan Pawlowski, Dave was attempting the challenge as the first-ever ‘Swim De Aky’.

 

 

This was organised in extension to the ‘Tour De Aky’, a bike ride held annually since 2018 in memory of PC Mick ‘Aky’ Atkinson, who tragically died by suicide a year earlier, and to fundraise for charities with meaning linked to the fallen officer.

But despite being well connected to the Tour De Aky, having taken part in all seven editions of the ride so far, Dave explained how he only found out about this sister challenge by pure chance.

“Funnily enough, Kev and I only caught wind of the Swim De Aky when we came across a Facebook post – it was from Mark, who had organised the swim but was someone we weren’t really in touch with, compared to Tour De Aky organiser, Pierre,” he said.

Challenge

“It said two people had dropped out, leaving only half a team, and asked if anyone would be interested in replacing them.

“I’d actually been looking to do a different sort of challenge, and Kev would never turn down another opportunity to honour his good mate, Aky, so it was perfect for us.

“We signed up and committed ourselves in at the deep end, and with only a handful of weeks left to go, began a lot of training.”

Starting from Folkstone, the team had suffered their first setback before even hitting the water after having their swim day pushed back due to adverse weather.

They instead began four days later – in conditions still less than ideal – relaying in one-hour intervals, with Kev up first, followed by Nathan, Mark and then Dave.

Ensuring they stuck to this order – as well as enforcing several other strict rules – was an official observer from the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, who joined the swimmers on a support boat alongside a pilot.

Sea sick

“Pretty much straight away, seasickness started to have an impact on us. This built up inside me, as did the anticipation of having to wait longer to get my first swim done, with being last in the order,” Dave continued.

“On the three-minute warning call before I was due to start my first hour, I threw up. I’d also seen with the others how it wasn’t just a case of getting your hour done, getting back on the boat and just chilling until your next one – there was never a real break from the conditions and the seasickness.

“I did my first hour, and it was tough – especially as you can’t fall below a certain stroke rate, nor touch the boat – but I managed it and we’d completed our first block as a team. Then, it was just about repeating that until we reached Calais.”

Throughout the next 12 hours, the Channel’s swell and current went both ‘for and against’ the team, as they encountered more obstacles, including a jellyfish field and discarded fish netting.

Each participant completed three further individual swims, with the last block of four hours entering nighttime and assisted by boat lighting.

“There were times when we really had to pick up the pace, or risk the challenge being written off by the observer as a failed attempt. At some points, it was touch-and-go.

 

 

“It was down to me to get us over the line, and when that moment came, the feeling was unbelievable. In the end, we covered 35 miles in a time of 15 hours and 59 minutes.

“I may have ended it, but it was all of us who had finished it, because it was a team effort in the truest sense possible.

“We were all that exhausted afterwards, we shared a bottle of brandy to celebrate and were probably all asleep within an hour.

“I now have more respect for the sea than I ever did before. I’m not a massively experienced swimmer, and I was apprehensive before, so to come out on top against such an unforgiving force of nature is something I’m very proud of.”

Although he did not know Aky personally, Dave says fundraising in memory of a fellow police officer from the same force ‘means a lot to me, especially after seven years of involvement’.

Swim de Aky

The 42-year-old rounded off by paying tribute to the Swim De Aky’s backing, which has seen over £5,800 raised and go towards an overall total with the Tour De Aky for mental health causes Andy’s Man Club and Menfulness, as well as Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which was close to Aky’s heart.

“The support has been absolutely massive and a genuine driver in us completing the challenge successfully, because we’ve been made to feel like absolute heroes.

“We’re really pleased and grateful for all the donations we’ve received – all four of us really appreciate it, so thank you.

“In addition to the money raised, these efforts for Aky have always got people talking, sharing and rooting for each other. Please remember you are never on your own – together, we are stronger.”

Federation members can still donate to the 2025 Swim De Aky through its GoFundMe page.