Matthieu Bonne is recovering after record attempt, but his mouth is one open wound

Matthieu Bonne is recovering relatively well after abandoning an attempt to swim 161 kilometres in open water off the coast of southern Italy. He had covered more than 100 kilometres after swimming for over 48 hours.

Wind and countercurrents made it difficult to maintain the planned pace and course. Saltwater also severely irritated his mouth. The damage became so serious that he could no longer close it fully and kept taking in seawater.

Bonne began the attempt at 2 p.m. on Sunday. He planned to remain in the water continuously for between 65 and 72 hours, without sleeping, leaving the water, touching a boat or touching the seabed. His support boat supplied all his food while he swam.

“

His mouth, that is now almost one open wound. His mucous membranes are completely destroyed. So everything that comes into contact with it, and certainly seawater, burns.

After 48 hours, Bonne and his support team decided to stop, with at least 50 kilometres still remaining. His stepfather, Erwin Inghelbrecht, said the injuries to Bonne’s mouth and lips had caused the greatest problems. “His mouth, that is now almost one open wound. His mucous membranes are completely destroyed. So everything that comes into contact with it, and certainly seawater, burns.”

The team tried several ways to ease the pain, but none worked. Bonne continued for another 14 hours, although he had to stop repeatedly to treat his mouth. He could barely eat, making the target increasingly difficult. Inghelbrecht said a new attempt was unlikely soon because the same problem had occurred during Bonne’s previous open-water record in Greece.

“

I think we should close that chapter for now. We are seeing for the second time that the same problem is occurring, and we actually have no solution for it.