A Wishaw father collapsed at the end of a gruelling open water charity swim which lasted more than 30 hours.
Scott McQuade took on the 44 mile swim the length of Loch Lomond and back for The Brain Tumour Charity following his son Ross’ diagnosis back in 2017.
The epic swim, which took an incredible 31 hours, was completed but the toll it took on Scott’s body was clear as soon as he came out of the water.
“I nearly broke myself,” 51-year-old Scott admitted to Lanarkshire Live.
“I got to the water’s edge, walked about 50 metres and then I just collapsed with exhaustion and dehydration.
“I was taken to a nearby hospital and got five or six litres of fluid pumped into me.
“I went for a sports massage and I was told there was no damage to ligaments which was surprising.
“However, the temperature of the water at Loch Lomond was 17 degrees and I was in there for five hours more than I expected to be. My tank was empty.”
A keen swimmer since childhood, Scott had previously swam the length of Loch Lomond – 22 miles – to raise awareness and funds for the same charity back in 2017.
This particular challenge was postponed due to the pandemic but in the run-up to and during the swim, Scott called on every ounce of mental strength and motivation.
These included how the charity helped his son through his diagnosis, his own father’s cancer journey and also the story of nine-year-old Faye Taylor, from Craigneuk, who recently passed away after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.
He said: “After the first swim I kept thinking ‘how far could I actually go?’
“I wanted to find out how far I could push myself before my body would break down.
“The motivation to keep going was for many reasons - the help the charity gave Ross during his diagnosis being one of them.
“I put my JustGiving link on Facebook and one of my neighbours told me about Faye and what she had been going through.
“My boy was 19 when he was diagnosed and that floored me so I could imagine what her mum and dad went through.
“I thought about that a lot while I was in the water, it inspired me to keep going and galvanised me.
“My dad Tom was diagnosed with cancer a while ago and unfortunately passed away a few days after I completed the swim.
“I knew he wasn’t going to get any better but things like that just drive you on, I had made a commitment to finish it.”
Scott’s wife Sharon and sons Ryan and Ross, who has fully recovered from his tumour, were there to greet him at the finish line.
And they’re also adamant this will be the last challenge of its kind for Scott.
“My family thought I was a complete basketcase for taking it on,” laughed Scott.
“There was a real outpouring of emotion when I finished but after going to hospital I don’t think they want me to be doing anything like that again.
“Psychologically I wanted to know what my limit was and I know now.
"I don’t think I could put myself through something like that again.”
You can donate to the charity by visiting Scott’s fundraising page.
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