A York student has swum the English Channel to raise thousands of pounds for a charity close to his heart.

Jamie Dawson, who swam the English Channel in just over 12 hours

Jamie Dawson, 21, from Huntington, who studies music at Newcastle University, conquered the 26 miles from Dover to Calais in 12 hours, 24 minutes.

The former Huntington School pupil will now donate £3,500 in sponsorship money to research into cancer, which claimed the life of his grandfather.

Jamie said: "It was sheer hell. For the first six hours it was okay. But I got to about half way and I didn't think I would do it.

"But I got into that stubborn mood and I thought I would just keep going and see what happened. I thought 'If I freeze, I freeze'."

Sixteen people set off from Dover to take on the challenge, but only Jamie and one other person made it to the finish, the rest having given up because of the cold and sheer exhaustion.

His mum Barbara Dawson said: "I am just so proud of him. It was a lot of hard work but it paid off and raised money for a good cause."

Jamie, a former York City Baths Club swimmer, said: "It was the perfect combination of my ambition and doing something to try to beat cancer. It takes so many people, there is no bias, and the more money that goes towards finding a cure the better."

He said that for three days after the swim he could not move: "I've had aches in muscles I didn't think existed. But in a few weeks or a few months, once the pain has gone, if someone suggested I do it again, I probably would."

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