It’s not the way most people would choose to celebrate a landmark birthday, but then Carole Laporte is not ’most people’.

On a misty Saturday morning - the weekend before last, February 18 - at Cringle Reservoir, she became the first Manx swimmer to complete an ’Ice Mile’ (subject to ratification by the International Ice Swimming Association).

In order to qualify for the ice mile, a swimmer must complete a one-mile swim, unaided, in a water temperature less than five Celcius, wearing a normal swimming costume, goggles and a single swim hat.

It is an extreme challenge that requires many hours of dedicated cold water swim training and, as such, only 202 people worldwide have so far achieved such a feat. Incredibly, more people reach the summit of Everest each year than have ever achieved an ice mile swim!

Supported by a small team of friends, Carole’s swim was meticulously planned with safety being the top priority.

Two members of the International Ice Swimming Association, Rory Fitzgerald and Kate Steels-Fryatt, travelled over to the island to provide their much-appreciated expertise and also to ensure that all the regulations were adhered to in order for the swim to qualify.

There was a tense period of time prior to the swim as the water temperature was measured. This required an average of under 5C on three separate thermometers at three locations on the course.

Having achieved 4.9C, 4.9C and 5C at all three locations the swim could finally begin.

Once in the water, Carole - a teacher at St Ninian’s High School - swam amazingly well. She set off at a good pace with an arm stroke rate of 74 per minute.

This dropped slightly to 72 and then 70 on the next two laps of the course.

It was expected that her stroke rate would then drop as she began to tire and the effects of the cold water took its toll.

But her hours of training paid off and she maintained both her stroke rate and style over the whole 12 laps, exiting the water to cheers from the support crew, both on land and on the water.

Once warm and dry (with the aid of a well-heated van) it was off to meet up with many of the island’s regular open water swimmers to start both the birthday celebrations and receive well-deserved congratulations on her incredible achievement.

The event was made possible by a small team, including event co-ordinator Nigel Hendy, medical assistance by Debbie Wignall and water safety provided by Sarah Hickey.

Carole also wishes to thank Manx Utilities for their kind permission in allowing her to use Cringle Reservoir for the swim.