News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere has made a splash by setting a pair of world records for swimming one of the deepest stretches of water on the planet.

The TV star's challenge was even more of a feat because until a matter of weeks ago, he struggled to swim a length - and was terrified of open water.

However, after intense training sessions Akinwolere conquered his fears and inexperience to swim five miles across the Palau Trench, an 8,000-metre deep abyss in the Pacific Ocean.

The brave presenter has not only become the first person to swim across the deepest part of the trench, but he now holds the record for the deepest location for an open water swim.

His achievement comes little over a year after his colleague Helen Skelton scored her own momentous achievement becoming the first person to kayak solo down the length of the Amazon river.

Akinwolere, clad in a wetsuit, rubber cap and goggles, took three and a half hours to complete his record-breaking swim. His records verified by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

Until recently he described his dread of open water as his "final fear". But he prepared for daunting deep ocean dip with daily swims to improve stamina and technique, carrying his trunks around at all times in case he passed a pool to build up the lengths.

And he prepared for the mental struggle by undergoing sessions with a psychologist.

His swim challenge was driven by the BBC's Big Splash initiative, a UK-wide campaign to get the nation swimming.

Research carried out jointly by the Big Splash and Blue Peter suggested children from a non-white ethnic background were twice as likely to be unable to swim as white children. And Akinwolere hoped his swim could help encourage more children to learn.

He said: "It's an absolute triumph to have completed this swim, after having had just over 10 weeks of swimming training I still cannot believe how far I've come. I could not swim a length before this and now I have swum over one of the deepest parts of the world.

"All the hours of gruelling training will be worth it if my challenge inspires more children from ethnic minorities to learn to swim."

:: The story of his swim will be screen in a Blue Peter special Andy's Big Splash on Monday June 20 on BBC1.