At just two years old, Amber-Rose Berry slipped during a swimming lesson in the waters of Pringle Bay. The fall was enough to embed a deep fear of water in the little girl – for years, she was frightened even to put her face beneath the surface.
Thirteen years later, that same child is preparing to swim the English Channel.
If 18-year-old Amber-Rose succeeds in her crossing between 21 and 27 August – weather and tides permitting – she will become the youngest South African to complete one of the world’s most demanding open-water endurance swims, the 34 km stretch between Dover, England, and the coast of France.
But this is no teenager chasing a headline. Amber-Rose has already proved she belongs in the open water.
In December 2023, at just 16 years and 77 days old, she became the youngest person to complete a solo swim across False Bay – a gruelling 33 km crossing from Miller’s Point to Rooi Els that took her nine hours and 40 minutes. The achievement earned her a Guinness World Record and the admiration of the open-water swimming community.
The Rhenish Girls’ High School alumnus has come a long way from the little girl who could not bear to submerge her face.
A cause bigger than herself
What makes Amber-Rose’s channel bid especially remarkable is why she is doing it. Her campaign, called Amber-Rose Crossing 2026, is raising funds for the Ukukhula Institute, an organisation that provides bursaries for disadvantaged student-athletes from Eastern Cape high schools to attend Rhodes University. The institute is also preparing to open a high-performance sports academy in Makhanda in 2027. Her campaign carries a simple, powerful message: Believe In What You Can Achieve.
Pride from her old school
The Rhenish Old Girls’ Union has thrown its full support behind its former pupil: “The Rhenish Old Girls’ Union is incredibly proud of Old Girl Amber-Rose Berry, who is set to attempt to become the youngest South African to swim the English Channel. At just 18 years old, Amber-Rose will take on one of the world’s most demanding open-water swims between 21–27 August 2026, with her crossing also raising funds for the Ukukhula Institute, supporting opportunities for disadvantaged student-athletes.
“Amber-Rose, your courage, determination and resilience inspire us all. We wish you calm seas, favourable conditions and every success as you take on this remarkable challenge. Believe in what you can achieve.”
From fear to France
The English Channel is the Mount Everest of open-water swimming. Swimmers face cold water, strong currents, jellyfish, shipping traffic, and the sheer physical and mental toll of swimming for upwards of 12 hours. Only a fraction of those who attempt it ever reach the other side.
For Amber-Rose, the challenge is deeply personal. From a toddler’s tumble in Pringle Bay’s waters to the cold, grey expanse of the Channel, her journey has been one of quiet determination and a refusal to let fear write her story.
As she enters the water at Dover this month, she carries with her the hopes of her community, her old school, and every disadvantaged young athlete whose path she is helping to open.
Amber-Rose’s ties with Hermanus are also something she will not easily forget. The remarkable young woman attended the Sand en See Lifeguard Training. The week-long camp offers specialised water safety and professional 7-day lifesaving certification courses.
