Rupali conquers Cook Strait

WELLINGTON, March 10: Indian teenager Rupali Repale today successfully swam New Zealand's difficult Cook Strait but was taken immediately to...

WELLINGTON, March 10: Indian teenager Rupali Repale today successfully swam New Zealand’s difficult Cook Strait but was taken immediately to hospital following the feat, Radio New Zealand reported.

The strait, 19 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, is swept by fierce tides and strong winds, swimmers can take all day and swim much further than the straight line distance.

Repale, 16, left the South Island early morning yesterday and came ashore in the North Island at around 1830 IST (2:00 a.m. Tuesday in New Zealand) suffering from mild hypothermia, the radio said.

As an 11-year-old, she swam the 38-kilometre stretch between Dharamtar and her home town of Mumbai in 11 hour 5 minutes. At age 12, she swam the 56 kilometre English Channel in 16 hour 7 minutes. Her other epic swims have included the straits of Gibraltar and Australia’s Bass Strait.

While aboard INS Vikrant, the Prime Minister had a packed schedule of engagements, officials said.

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