Floating on air after Bristol Channel swim!

SWIMMING phenomenon Gethin Jones has been hailed for his mammoth Bristol Channel crossing by relatives of the Swansea teenager he dedicated his feat to.

Brothers Dave and Mike Thomas, the uncle and father of the late Liam Thomas, were with Mr Jones every stroke of the way from Ilfracombe to Caswell Bay in a support boat.

An exhausted, Speedo-clad Mr Jones walked ashore late on Sunday afternoon after nearly 22 hours in the sea, mentally drained and nursing a hurt shoulder and wrist after completing 30.5 nautical miles.

It's understood to be the first successful crossing from Ilfracombe to Swansea.

The 38-year-old has raised just under £500 with his marathon swim, with more money scheduled to come in.

Mike Thomas, whose 15-year-old son Liam died in 2007 following a brain haemorrhage, said Mr Jones faced a serious dilemma when his shoulder went.

He said: "We gave him painkillers every two hours, and he fought through it."

The money raised will go to Donor Family Network, a charity close to Mr Thomas's heart after Liam's donated organs helped save three lives.

"We are still in touch with them," said Mr Thomas, of Blaenymaes. "Any time you feel down you can pick up the phone. Sometimes it's nice to talk to someone who has been through that experience."

Watch a video of Gethin's swim

His brother David, who trains with pal Mr Jones, said the last few miles were painfully slow as fatigue and the troublesome tide took their toll.

He thanked the two pilots on board the Swansea Water Sports boat for their professionalism, and time-keeper Dafydd Jones, from Swim Wales. "Gethin was very focused," he said. "He had been training six days a week at Caswell since March.

"During the night it was very peaceful out there. Gethin was behind the boat with a glow stick at the back of his goggles.

Time keeper Dafydd Jones said: "It was very, very tough. He was very good."

Jacky Glassen, British Long Distance Swimming Association president, also hailed Mr Jones's swim.

"It is an excellent achievement," she said. "In open water you have got a lot of things to cope with — cold, tides and jellyfish."

Sponsor Gethin Jones

Relaxing at his Swansea Marina flat yesterday, the man of the moment put his success down to lots of rest beforehand, and a strong mental attitude. He was covered in Vaseline and lanolin to prevent chafing just before setting off at 6.45pm on Saturday evening, with a stunning sunset giving way to a star-filled sky.

After plenty of rest and recuperation, the landscape gardening business owner is now targeting another extreme event next year — the Norseman triathlon, in Norway.

"It's a tough, old race," he said.