Man completes charity swim from New Brunswick to P.E.I. and back

A Vancouver man said he was looking forward to a bath and some black forest cake after completing a swim from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island and back.

Jeremy Davidson, 32, arrived back in New Brunswick on Saturday night after spending 16 hours and 15 minutes in the water crossing the Northumberland Strait both ways.

Davidson left Cape Jourimain in New Brunswick on Saturday morning and turned around after reaching Borden-Carleton, P.E.I.

A member of his support team says he grabbed a sandwich and kissed his wife before turning around to start the return trip to New Brunswick.

The army corporal, based at CFB Gagetown, N.B. said the swim took longer than expected because he had to fight tides, wind and currents both ways.

Davidson made the swim to raise money and awareness for the Neil Squire Society, a non-profit organization that empowers people with disabilities to return to the workforce.

He said it was one of the hardest things he’s ever done.

“Everything you could think of got thrown at me,” he said. ”I can’t believe I finally got to shore.”

Davidson said he planned to get warmed up in front of a fire.

”When it all comes down to it, I feel pretty good.”

The charity swim was inspired by his father, who was diagnosed in 2010 with a severe form of arthritis.