Almost a year after an intense battle with COVID-19, a Nelson Mandela Bay businessman has proven that not even the aftermath of a deadly virus on his body would stop him from swimming more than 20km across the Bay, unintentionally breaking a record in the process.
Owner of City Paint and Tool, Gavin Biggs, not only bagged this record when he recently swam 22km from Bluewater Bay to the harbour, but also broke a record during a 14.5km swim across Plettenberg Bay from Wreck Beach, Robberg, to Enrico’s Beach at Keurbooms Strand. He was told by the NSRI and local authorities that this was the longest swim in the Plettenberg Bay area to date.
“The experience to swim across Algoa Bay was always very daunting, but I never doubted myself with the distance as I had many training swims.
“The only unknown was how the sea conditions were going to act for the day,” Biggs said.
“They were perfect for the start, but 11km in, they changed drastically and I really had to put mind over matter to get through the next 11km.
“The sea deserves respect at all times as it is so unpredictable,” he added.
“Mentally, it was very challenging to think you could be treading water for so long as you are not allowed to touch a vessel or raft of any sort. The challenges came thick and fast as I took on so much sea water from the rough seas which made me very ill out at sea. I persevered though,” Biggs elaborated.
Before he contracted the virus, Biggs had already been an active sportsman, with three half Ironman marathons and one Ironman behind his name, which meant that he was used to swimming.
“I loved getting back into swimming, as it is a lovely sport when you are fit. I was never after any records, as this journey for me became one of self-fulfilment to prove to myself what I was capable of. I guess the swims grew on me and I then started to challenge myself more each time. Open water swimming makes me feel alive and free and is very soothing for my soul.”
It is hard to believe that the man who spent more than eight hours swimming across the Bay, breaking a previous record of approximately 18km, could barely breathe due to his battle with COVID-19 approximately this time last year.
Biggs, a chronic asthmatic, experienced difficulty breathing the day after going for a COVID-19 test. He was immediately admitted to Greenacres Hospital and received his positive result that night.
“COVID changed my life forever. The journey of being so ill with an illness at the time I had it was extremely terrifying. Not even the South African doctors could tell me what tomorrow held or by when I would recover.
“It affected me emotionally, mentally and especially physically. I lost 8kg off a frame that was not overweight,” Biggs explained.
He mentioned that his family all handled his COVID experience very differently, especially when he was in hospital.
His wife, Dr Lynn Biggs, dean of the law faculty at Nelson Mandela University, kept watching his status on WhatsApp to check if he was still alive, while his 18-year-old daughter, Jade, cried every day wondering if her dad was going to make it back home.
His son, Bruce (16) knew that he was going to make it and just withdrew from everyone until his dad was back home.
“I needed to see a psychologist to get me back on track and I was determined to get my life back. I am grateful for each day and take so much less for granted. My glass is now viewed as not half full, but overflowing.”
Biggs’ message to other COVID survivors who might have a fear of getting back out there, to resume the lives they had before the virus, and that any recovery from any injury or illness is up to each individual’s determination and mental strength.
“There is help all over the place to assist people through their own journeys.”
