'It was brutal': SA's Ryan Stramrood completes swim around St Helena in record-breaking time

Ryan Stramrood is known for his feats of endurance as a record-setting long distance swimmer and also ice swimmer.

Now the extreme athlete has completed an ultra-marathon swim around isolated St Helena island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Not only did he become just the third person to achieve this - and 2nd South African, but set a new record: 16 hours, 50 minutes, and 42 seconds (still to be officially verified).

He describes how tough the swim was in an interview with outdoor correspondent Jeff Ayliffe, who caught up with the swimmer a day later when he'd enjoyed some well-deserved sleep.

Speaking from St Helena, Stramrood actually apologises for his croaky voice after the gruelling event, saying his throat is seized up from exposure to salt water.

The 47 km swim was made more difficult by sea conditions, which he describes as like being in a washing machine.

"It looked like a decent weather gap but I really did not get the best weather day... I left at midnight on Wednesday, which means I swam right through the night first and then into Thursday for those 16 hours, finishing just before ten to five in the evening."

"The way the water lies here is just incredible - it's like a washing machine; it just does not let you get into a rhythm. So if you can picture trying to swim that length of time and that distance, and just every stroke is a fight..."

Stramrood says he had to push to all kinds of limits to get it done, and meet a couple of his demons.

But get it done, he did 

"It was a really, really brutal swim for me, but as always, I had a great support team alongside, on two boats."

Stramrood, who says his body still feels "broken", now has a week of exploring to look forward to on the volcanic island, situated just under 2,000 west of the coast of Angola.

To listen to Jeff Ayliffe's interview with Ryan Stramrood on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below (skip to 2:19)