SWIMMING through the strong sea currents and battling the elements, a Co Antrim man is aiming to swim 100km in the dark to raise awareness for mental health.
Al Mennie, an experienced surfer from Portrush, set out on the gruelling water challenge on December 1 and has just 25km left to complete.
The Swim Through Darkness challenge involves the 40-year-old only taking to the water in the hours of darkness, through the surf and not the open flat water, during the coldest months of the year.
Mr Mennie is swimming parallel to the shore, completing varying distances depending on the sea state and facing the continual battering of the surf and weather elements during each swim.
No stranger to the water, he is drawing upon his lifetime of surf knowledge and experience to navigate his way through the darkness.
Mr Meenie is regarded as a pioneer of big wave surfing in Ireland and the now infamous big wave location of Nazare in Portugal, home to the biggest waves in the world.
In the winter of 2012, he was the first person to use a paddle board to cross the treacherous waters of the North Channel where the Irish Sea clashes with the Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr Mennie said he is undertaking the massive challenge in a bid to shine a light on the issue of mental health and those "struggling to keep their head above water".
He is also raising awareness and funds for the mental health charity, Aware NI.
"The pandemic is hitting everyone extremely hard not least our charities," he said.
"I've seen several reports on the news about donations slowing to a degree that I felt I must try and help.
"Maybe I can't raise much money in the current economic climate but hopefully I can help raise awareness and maybe someone will keep their head above water as a result."
Since starting out, Mr Meenie had already completed 75km, raising more than £8,000 for Aware NI. He said he hopes to reach his 100km target by the end of March.
For more information, please visit swimthroughdarkness.com/
