Skin-diver submerged 54 hours

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33805, 31 March 1975, Page 11

Skin-diver submerged 54 hours

7. Press Assn—Copyright) SYDNEY, March 30. After breaking the world underwater endurance record today, a Sydney skin-diver, Mrj Chris Warner, said that he would take a holiday in the desert. Mr Warner. aged 22,[ emerged from an aquarium' at the Manly Marineland at! 2 o’clock today after beingsubmerged for 54 hours. He beat the previous, record, set in England last; June, by four hours. He surfaced none the worse for his ordeal, the object of which was to draw attention to pollution of the sea. The only signs of hisi marathon submergence were bruising around his eyes from his face mask and difficulty in using his hands, which were puffed. Mr Warner had nine Grey Nurse sharks for company in the tank. His worst moment occurred when he suffered stomach cramps after 15 hours in the water, but’, these went when warm; water was pumped into his, diving suit. There was a brief panic when an electrical storm hit . Sydney late on Saturday’ afternoon, blacking out the': aquarium and cutting his ( oxygen supply. But his sup- , nort team switched over to reserve oxygen tanks. Mr Warner fed the sharks . at regular intervals, and '. listened to radio broadcasts by earphones fitted into his diving helmet