Tough Times for Marathon Swimmer Off Course in Lake Michigan
Jim Dreyer Gives Up 80-Mile Swim After Losing GPS and Going Off Course
Veteran marathon swimmer, Jim Dreyer, has many accolades to his name, but an 80-mile (128-kilometer) swim attempt across Lake Michigan took an unexpected turn last week. Dreyer, aged 60, popularly known as ‘The Shark,’ halted his quest on the third day after losing his GPS due to battery failure and straying significantly off course.
A Daunting Task Takes a Wrong Turn
On Thursday last week, Dreyer was extracted from the water after he had covered 60 miles (96 kilometers). He had launched his mission on Tuesday from Grand Haven, intending to reach Wisconsin shores. Without a functioning GPS, Dreyer was left reliant on a wrist compass and his perception of the sky and waves for direction.
A support boat eventually caught up with him, breaking the unwelcome news that he had been swimming north all day, putting him off course. “What a blow! I should have been in the home stretch, well into Wisconsin waters with about 23 miles (37 kilometers) to go. Instead, I had 47 miles (75 kilometers) to go, and the weather window would soon close,” expressed a disappointed Dreyer recounting the incident. The weather forecast predicted towering 9-foot (2.7-meter) waves in the days ahead.
The Challenge of Endurance
As the day wore on, fatigue took its toll on Dreyer, with the marathon swimmer admitting his “brain was mush” and he began experiencing hallucinations. He envisioned a steel wall he could put his hand through and phantom cargo ships. He estimated it would take a few more days of relentless swimming to reach Milwaukee, given his current situation and the weather forecast. Expressing his team’s concerns, he stated, “We all knew that success was now a long shot and the need for rescue was likely if I continued.”
A seasoned swimmer, Dreyer completed a crossing of Lake Michigan back in 1998, starting from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and ending at Ludington, Michigan. However, he has tried to repeat this achievement thrice since last summer, all of which have unfortunately ended without success.
An Unexpected Twist
During the ill-fated swim, Dreyer was towing an inflatable boat filled with food, supplies, and crucial navigation devices. On the second day, he paused to replace the AA batteries in his GPS unit. However, amid the process, he lost the bag carrying the batteries. “It was an accident, but it was my fault,” he admitted, showing his frustration at the predicament. “This is a tough pill to swallow.”
