A TILBURY man has swum the English Channel to raise money for the Little Havens children’s hospice.

He took on the challege after losing his best friend, and fellow swimmer, Tony Mellett to a sudden illness last year.

Tony Marshall, 53, finished the 21-mile swim in more than 20 hours, setting off from Dover at 7.40am and arriving in Calais at about 3am the next day.

He was the only swimmer out of three to complete the swim due to rough sea conditions.

His swim has so far raised £2,080 via a Just Giving page.

Of the swim through water at 16 degrees, Tony said: “It was really good – really hard work, as it was really rough conditions, but I made it.

“The tide pushes you to the left and then changes and pushes you to the right. You just have to keep going.”

Tony decided to raise money for the hospice after losing his best friend when he collapsed and died without illness or warning.

He added: “I’ve always wanted to do it since the age of 17.

“I joined the Red Caps Open Water Swimming Club six years ago, and I’ve been training since September by swimming a lot in cold water.”

To complete the swim, he had to fight off changing currents and sewage, and was accompanied by a small boat.

The boat was used to video the swim and was also essential to guide Tony around passing ships, which can prove fatal to swimmers in the busy shipping channel.

Tony, of Burn Place, Tilbury added: “It’s a mental and physical challenge, and people were watching the whole thing live on Facebook from all over the world.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/Tonys-channel-swim