The Tribune

CHLOE McCardel, the Australian ultra-marathon swimmer who recently swam nearly 80 miles from the southern tip of Eleuthera to New Providence, has been released from the Princess Margaret Hospital and is recuperating in a hotel, The Big T can confirm.

An official from her support team told The Big T that even though Ms McCardel is out of hospital, she is “still in bed” at the hotel. He also said she was “looking better but still weary”.

The official did not release the name of the hotel that Ms McCardel is currently staying in, and attempts to reach either her or her husband Paul McQueeney were unsuccessful up to press time.

The official did say, however, that she was expected to remain in the hotel “for a few days”, which is in line with previous reports that Ms McCardel would remain in the Bahamas until she is comfortable enough to travel back to Australia (early next month).

Ms McCardel was admitted to hospital after having suffered severe jellyfish stings and severe dehydration received during her 41 hour and 21 minute swim from Eleuthera to the eastern shores of New Providence.

Although she successfully completed the longest open-water solo, unassisted marathon swim in world history, it came with a painful price.

At the end of her journey, the left side of Ms McCardel’s face and her mouth were considerably swollen, and the skin directly under her eyes was noticeably raw, likely due to the friction of her goggles constantly rubbing against her face in the salt water.

Mr McQueeney said his wife had experienced a “bout” with box jellyfish halfway into her swim, which stung her at least 10 to 12 times on both legs, her back, face and her mouth. He also said she faced the risk of hypothermia.

Ms McCardel made landfall in New Providence at 12.55am Wednesday morning, about two kilometres south of her original finishing point of Montagu Beach.

She had logged a total of 126km (78 miles), but not the 128km she had originally aimed for. The 78 miles was sufficient to secure her spot in history, however.

Officials from the Marathon Swimmers Federation have said that a panel will review the documentation from Ms McCardel’s swim and decide whether it should be ratified as a record.