Amber‑Rose Berry becomes youngest South African woman to swim the English Channel

According to IOL, 18‑year‑old Amber‑Rose Berry of Pringle Bay has become the youngest South African woman to swim the English Channel, completing the crossing in an unofficial time of 10 hours and 27 minutes.

Fast crossing from Dover to Cap Gris‑Nez

IOL reports that Berry began her swim from Shakespeare Beach in Dover at 5:27am and reached the rocks at Pointe du Riden, near Cap Gris‑Nez in France, at 3:54pm on Sunday, August 23. Her time is still subject to ratification; if confirmed, IOL says it would place her well ahead of the typical 12 to 14 hours taken to complete the crossing.

Conditions and challenges

The crossing was not without difficulty. According to IOL, Berry faced painful jellyfish stings, strong currents, cold water and the wake of a passing ship during the swim. Berry is quoted as saying,

“That was bloody tough.”

IOL also reports that Berry’s mother, Karen, who supported her from the escort vessel Sea Leopard, said:

“She was tired and cold, and there was still so far to go.”

Preparation, feeding and past achievements

Berry trained for months under the guidance of open‑water coach Clinton le Seuer, IOL says. During the crossing she fed regularly, taking liquid nutrition every hour for the first two hours before moving to feeds every 30 minutes.

The swim adds to Berry’s earlier open‑water milestones. According to IOL, at 16 she became the youngest person to complete Cape Town’s 33km False Bay crossing, finishing solo in nine hours and 40 minutes without a wetsuit, wearing only a swimming costume and cap.

Fundraising and wider significance

IOL reports the swim was also a fundraiser: more than $7,000 has already been raised to support the Ukukhula Institute in Makhanda, an initiative that provides scholarships for disadvantaged student‑athletes to attend Rhodes University.

With the crossing awaiting official ratification, IOL frames Berry’s swim as both a sporting milestone and a campaign to create opportunities for student‑athletes.