Swimmer, 36, is 'circled by up to 50 SHARKS' in sea off Dorset

Swimmer, 36, is ‘circled by up to 50 SHARKS’ in sea off Dorset while training for record-breaking bid for fastest swim around the Isle of Wight

  • Swimmer said he was circled by up to 50 sharks in the sea off Dorset 
  • Oly Rush, 36, felt a shark bump against his leg 240ft off the coast of Poole
  • But rather than swim away, the plasterer basked in the ‘fantastic’ experience 
  • Smooth hound sharks are common to UK waters and can grow to 4ft in length

A swimmer said he was circled by up to 50 sharks in the sea off Dorset while training for his record-breaking bid for the fastest swim around the Isle of Wight.

Oly Rush, 36, set off from the glamorous Sandbanks peninsular in Poole for a midnight training swim last month when he described feeling a shark bump against his leg – just 240ft off the coastline.

Diving underwater while his friend Ashley McPherson, who accompanied him in a kayak, shone a torch, he started taking pictures of the sharks with his phone concealed in a waterproof case.

The plasterer claims dozens of smooth hound sharks, which are common to UK waters and can grow to 4ft in length, circled him for 15 minutes – and even nibbled at his hands and feet, which were not covered by a wet suit. 

But rather than swim away, Mr Rush – who made headlines by building his fiancee Tess a £75 hot tub after their wedding was cancelled due to Covid restrictions – basked in the ‘fantastic’ experience. 

Oly Rush, 36, set off from the glamorous Sandbanks peninsular in Poole for a midnight training swim last month when he described feeling a shark bump against his leg – just 240ft off the coastline 


The plasterer claims dozens of smooth hound sharks, which are common to UK waters and can grow to 4ft in length, circled him for 15 minutes – and even nibbled at his hands and feet, which were not covered by a wet suit 

Oly Rush said he was circled by up to 50 sharks around 240ft off the coast of Dorset

He said: ‘Before we set off I had joked about being attacked by sharks and we were laughing about it. It was my first night-time swim, so it was pretty unnerving when I suddenly came up against something in the water.

‘When Ashley shone his torch there were all these eyes staring at us – we counted around 50 sharks. 

‘When I realised what it was I just enjoyed the experience – it was fantastic to see so many sharks in the wild just behaving naturally and in such good health. I felt very privileged.’ 

He added: ‘After about 15 minutes I swam on and left them to it. I think they might have been attracted to a flashing light in my tow float that I swim with.

A swimmer said he was circled by up to 50 sharks in the sea off Dorset while training for his record-breaking bid for the fastest swim around the Isle of Wight 

Mr Rush was preparing for a non-stop 24-hour swim around the Isle of Wight which he aims to complete at the end of the month for charity

Mr Rush made headlines by building his fiancee Tess a £75 hot tub after their wedding was cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions

‘The sharks’ nibbles didn’t hurt because they don’t have teeth.’

Mr Rush was preparing for a non-stop 24-hour swim around the Isle of Wight which he aims to complete at the end of the month for charity.

He will set off from Seaview, near Ryde, on August 22, and swim 65 miles anti-clockwise around the island – the equivalent of going between Dover and Cap Gris-Nez in France three times.

He is aiming to break the current record of 26 hours set in 2016 by Scott Dawson and raise over £5,000 for charities which clean up plastic on Britain’s shores.

Last summer the vegan environmentalist swam the length of the Jurassic Coast and raised over £10,000 for charity.   

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