A DEVOTED swimmer who is legally blind has thanked an uMhlanga resident after she swam alongside him at the annual Breathe World Ocean Day Swim (June 6).

Ted Foster, who has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder characterised by vision loss that worsens over time, completed the 800m open water event and was guided by Carryl van Bassen.

The 66-year-old hopes the experience will allow him to take to open water more regularly. Foster, a member of the Synergy Masters Swimming Club, explained he struggles with open water swims.

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“It was an amazing event and I’ve swam every Breathe World Ocean Day swim since inception. Because of my condition and a struggle with balance I find it quite hard to swim in the ocean without a guide. The reason I only do one ocean swim a year is the commitment it requires from someone to guide me along. Many of my friends say they will help but it is a big responsibility. I’m grateful to Carryl, who is a wonderful friend and medal-winning masters swimmer, because she helped guide me through the swim which was not easy for me. As swimming is a hypoxic exercise, half the time you have head under water, I panicked a little in the beginning. Inspirational ocean triumph

“But as Carryl guided me I began to focus and relax more as we got into our stride. While I swim regularly in the pool, I only swim one open water swim a year. After the success of this year I’m aiming to complete the 1.6km in next year’s World Oceans Day swim event. The confidence I gained from this experience and a commitment from Carryl means I’m also eyeing up doing the Dolphin Mile as well later this year,” he said.

The Durban North resident explained that swimming helps boost his mental and physical health.

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“Swimming keeps me going. When you lose your sight you sometimes miss out on life. Swimming has not only been an outlet to be able to keep fit but also be surrounded by a lovely, supportive community. My friends always encourage me in and out of the water. It is because of them that after nine years of competing in masters that I was able to get my KZN colours,” he said.

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