By Emma Jolliff
An Italian distance swimmer is hoping to be the first amputee to swim the Cook Strait.
He lost a leg to a cancerous tumour when he was just 15 and did not start swimming until he was 40.
His quest is to raise awareness of the disabled and he is determined even if the conditions are against him.
It was on medical advice that made Salvatore Cimmino take up swimming at a later age than usual.
“After many years walking with an artificial leg my back couldn't anymore keep me straight,” says Mr Cimmino.
Swimming has changed his life.
Mr Cimmino is swimming around the world to raise awareness of disabilities and to encourage others to strive beyond their limitations.
“What I’m trying to do is to build bridges between people like me who are disabled and people who are abled-bodied.”
His global tour has already seen him complete swims in Israel, Italy, Slovenia, Mexico and Canada.
But the idea of conquering the Cook Strait came from a friend and former All Black John Kirwan, who also lives in Italy.
“It's relatively dangerous, but he's just an incredibly emotional and courageous man and I’m sure he'll make it,” says Mr Kirwan.
But the conditions at this time of year are less than ideal.
He is the first person ever to attempt a crossing in October. The problem is the water temperature is unlikely to get above 10 degrees.
His swimming coach Phillip Rush says there are some dangers out there and the major danger at this point is hypothermia.
Eighty people have swum the Cook Strait since 1963. Mr Rush says three times as many have tried and failed.
“It is still one of the hardest pieces of water in the world to cross by swimming.”
Mr Cimmino is hoping to attempt the crossing in the next few days but that will depend on the weather.
They are hoping for a calm day that delivers a bit of warm sun on his back.
3 News