Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, a sports journalist and regular commentator on KCRW radio in Santa Monica, has ended her attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida.
At 7:40 a.m. Eastern time last night, she was stung in the face and eyes by Portuguese Man-of-Ware jellyfish. She was treated by two doctors aboard the transom of the Voyager, according to her website. She returned to the water to swim at 12:20 a.m. E.T. and continued through until 11 a.m. before she called off the attempt.
From the water, she called out to her flotilla of four escort boats and addressed each of them in a strong voice.
“The medical team said I should not go another two nights in the water and risk additional likely Man-of-War stings which could have a long term cumulative effect on my body,” she said, as reported on her website’s blog. “But for each of us, isn’t life about determining your own finish line? This journey has always been about reaching your own other shore no matter what it is, and that dream continues.”
Nyad swam more than 67 nautical miles.
Steve Munatones, the independent observer for the International Swim Federation who is accompanying the expedition, noted that Portuguese Man-of-War stings have doomed many a marathon swimmer.
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