Lewis Pugh at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society

05th September, 2019

On Thursday 12th September, Lewis Pugh will be speaking in Perth, UK at an event hosted by The Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

Described as ‘the Sir Edmund Hillary of swimming’, Lewis is a UN Patron of Oceans and has pioneered swims in some of the most vulnerable and hazardous ecosystems on Earth – always just in Speedos, goggles and a swim cap.

In 2007, he was the first person to swim across the North Pole, in salt water temperatures of -1.7 degrees Celsius. In 2010, he swam across one of the highest glacial lakes in the world beneath the summit of Mount Everest. More recently in 2018, he completed a swim traverse of the entire length of the English Channel.

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society said: “Lewis’ example and stamina in his ocean advocacy work are inspirational. It will be wonderful to host Lewis in Perth to celebrate his invaluable contribution to the fields of environmental protection, climate change and sustainability. And, of course, to hear his remarkable stories of adventure in some of the world’s most dangerous and delicate bodies of water.”

At the event at the Perth Concert Hall, Lewis will present a talk entitled ‘Achieving Your Impossible’ and receive the Society’s Mungo Park Medal for his outstanding contribution to geographical knowledge through adventure in potentially hazardous environments.

Tickets are available from the Perth Concert Hall website, with prices starting from £5.

Justine Harvey