World champion swimmer Neil Gilson, known as 'The Legend of the Lakes,' is midway through a Guinness World Record challenge to swim the 10 largest lakes in Switzerland, all for his 10-year-old son Jack, who suffers from PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections).
Record-Breaking Feat
Last month, Gilson completed the fifth lake, a 61km swim of Lake Maggiore, setting a new world record of 17 hours 14 minutes. The father-of-three, who runs the Sandy Cove hotel in Berrynarbor, North Devon, with his wife Lucie, says: “Every stroke I take, I do it for my son. Every time I want to throw in the towel, I picture him on the shore at the end, saying, ‘Daddy, you did it!’”
Jack's Sudden Symptoms
Gilson recalls his son's alarming change in behaviour at 18 months old. “Almost overnight Jack developed severe anxiety and became really nervous about everything. He had a bad tic, where he would rub his ear on his shoulder. It became constant,” Gilson says. “He barely ate anything and had extreme tantrums. Often, he would stare into nothing and then start screaming. Then he started biting his arm, which was terrible.” Initially thought to have autism or Tourette's, Jack was tested for inner ear issues and allergies, all to no avail. He had tonsillitis 11 times in one year.
Diagnosis Through Social Media
When Jack was three, Lucie stumbled across a viral social media video from ITV's This Morning featuring a doctor discussing a child with similar symptoms. The couple tracked down Dr Tim Ubhi from the London PANS Clinic. Blood tests confirmed Jack had streptococcus bacteria, leading to a diagnosis of PANDAS, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain after an infection like strep throat. After a longer course of antibiotics and tonsil removal, Jack improved dramatically. “We started to get our little boy back. It was incredibly emotional,” Gilson says.
Swimming for Awareness
Gilson, who came second in the 1,500m freestyle at the 2002 British Championships, began swimming challenges to raise funds for PANS PANDAS UK, which supports 7,100 UK families. “I felt powerless, so did what I could - swim,” he says. His previous feats include a 24-hour swim in a Scottish lake in 2020, the Bristol Channel in 2021, and Lake Geneva in 2024. He is now an ambassador for the charity and hopes to make a documentary: “If the people on This Morning hadn’t done that, I don't know where Jack would be now. Early diagnosis is key.”
The Challenge Details
Last year, Gilson swam four Swiss lakes – Lugano (30.7km), Constance (65km), Biel (15.7km) and Neuchâtel (37.4km) – setting new world records for each. Next week he will tackle Zurich (37km) and Zug (13.8km), then Lucerne (36.2km) and Thun (16.6km). The challenge concludes in August with Lake Geneva (72km). Guinness World Records will recognise him as the first person to swim the 10 largest Swiss lakes. Rules include non-stop swimming, no touching the boat, no monitors or pacing equipment, only a swim hat, goggles and trunks. He stops hourly for food and drink. “I try not to think about time. It can be a mental battle,” he says.
Training and Motivation
Gilson trains in the pool and sea near his home, plus regular yoga. During the Lake Maggiore swim, with 7km to go, he was exhausted until he pictured Jack's face. “It gave me the strength to carry on. In my 20s, I wouldn't have been able to do it, not physically, but mentally,” he says. Jack will join him for the final section of the Lake Geneva swim. “We’ll reach the shore together. Me and Jack. I’m so incredibly proud of him,” Gilson adds.
Support for Safe Swimming
Gilson backs the Mirror's Save Lives For Sam campaign. During his first Lake Geneva attempt in July 2023, he experienced severe hypothermia when water temperature dropped 7°C. He lost consciousness and was rescued by his support team. “Even with years of experience, open water can change in an instant and must always be respected,” he says. Before every swim, he assesses water temperature, weather, wind and currents. “Never underestimate open water. Always swim with others, choose a safe location, and never take unnecessary risks.”
