Marathon swimmer promotes film with dip in Thames

Marathon swimmer Martin Strel emerges from the Thames on his way to the London premiere of Big River Man, a documentary about his record breaking swim along the Amazon.

Slovenian-born Strel, who also holds Guinness world records for swimming the Danube, the Mississippi and the Yangtze, took 66 days to swim the 3,200 miles of the Amazon, braving piranhas, crocodiles, toxic waste and whirlpools.

Strel, 54, who drinks two bottles of red wine and sleeps for five hours a day during his swims, says he does it for peace, friendship and clean waters.'

Critically aclaimed Big River Man, by arthouse director John Maringouin, opens at the BFI Southbank on Friday.