Grandmother swims New Zealand's Cook Strait

A 55-year-old woman from New Zealand North Island resort of Rotorua has swum Cook Strait in nine hours 23 minutes, becoming the oldest person to do the feat.

Pam Dickson completed the 26km swim on Friday on her first attempt, despite suffering hypothermia and swimming in a circle for the final 800 meters because she was so cold and disoriented.

She said the water temperature was 18 degrees when she began the swim, but it then dropped to 16 degrees in the final 4 km.

Her guide, veteran Strait swimmer Philip Rush, said it is illegal to wear wet suits in such swims, including in the English Channel, Kazinform cites Xinhua.

He said Dickson's crossing was a "great effort" in gusty winds of up to 30 knots, which made conditions difficult for both the swimmer and her support crew.

Dickson, a massage therapist and grandmother of nine, said she's jumping with joy at her feat, but will probably not rest for too long.

She has competed in many Ironman races and marathons and is considering doing the Rotorua marathon in May.