Autistic Ultra-Marathon Swimmer Tuna Tunca Conquers the North Channel: A 16-Hour Challenge

Autistic ultra-marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca successfully completed the North Channel, the third leg of the Ocean's 7, in approximately 16 hours. Having already conquered the first two legs of the Ocean's 7, the English Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar, Tunca started swimming from the coast of Donaghadee in Northern Ireland for the North Channel leg. Swimming in 14-degree Celsius water for approximately 40 kilometers, Tunca persevered despite strong tides, cold weather, and a high presence of jellyfish. Supported by his coach Mert Onaran, his team, and his mother Gül Nur Tunca, the athlete struggled with strong currents in the final stretch of the course for about three hours. Overcoming this challenging leg, Tunca reached the coast of Port Patrick in Scotland after approximately 16 hours, successfully completing the passage.