Dreyer Falls Short of Straits Record Swim

Suffering heart palpitations and exhaustion, marathon athlete Jim Dreyer has ended his quest to set a world distance swimming record in the Straits of Mackinac, leaving the water at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, August 30, after swimming 40 miles in 49 hours.

Mr. Dreyer climbed out of the turbulent Straits on the St. Ignace side, where he was taken by ambulance to Mackinac Straits Hospital and later transferred to Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey for testing, said Dreyer crew member Shelley McLain.

Mr. Dreyer was in stable condition at press time, with good vital signs, Mrs. McLain said.

"The symptoms could be just from exertion, but he will have some extra tests taken of his heart just to be sure," Mrs. McLain told The Town Crier Thursday.

"I do think he was disappointed," she said of the hospitalized swimmer, who had hoped to complete at least 31 laps across the Straits and set a world distance record of 125 consecutive miles. "The current in the Straits is just incredible, and he knew that. We may not have picked a good venue to set a world record."

She said Mr. Dreyer has not yet decided whether he will return to the Straits following his recovery, but it is not likely he will attempt another swim this year.

Mr. Dreyer planned to battle the Straits' cross current for an estimated 84 to 96 hours. Swimming without the support of an escort boat, he entered the Straits at St. Ignace Monday morning, August 28, pulling a buoy along with him that contained drinking water, liquid meals, and vitamins. Fog complicated his plans the first day, when he diverted his route to avoid approaching freighters. After making two arduous crossings against strong currents Monday, he changed his route again to take advantage of more sheltered conditions near the Mackinac Bridge causeway.

Though swimming alone, he communicated by radio with his land crews in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, who were standing by with rescue boats at the ready. He remained in the water for 49 consecutive hours, wearing a strobe light at night.

Mr. Dreyer, of Byron Center, has set 14 world records while swimming across all five Great Lakes. Last year's Lake Superior swim set the world record for a self-sufficient swim as he pulled 250 pounds of supplies for 59 miles alone across Lake Superior.

His swimming campaigns raise funds and awareness for the Big Brothers Big Sisters youth program.