First woman to complete sea forts swim challenge

Rebekah Kefford swam the eight-mile challenge from the Red Sands forts on Wednesday

A mother of two has became the first woman to swim to shore from decommissioned sea forts off the Kent coast.

Rebekah Kefford, from Birchington, swam the eight miles (12.8km) from the Red Sands forts on Wednesday.

She raised £10,000 money for Aspire, a charity which supports people who have been paralysed by spinal cord injury.

She said: "It's been calm and it's been warm. I got looked after by my team incredibly well."

Rebekah was supported and given snacks by her team following her on a boat

She was supported by her team on a boat, who kept her hydrated as she swam back to shore through jellyfish and seaweed.

Rebekah admitted there were some tough times during the challenge, which was the longest open cold water swim she had ever completed.

She told BBC South East: "There were moments when I got to about the fourth hour when I was thinking I'm starting to flag.

"I could feel my muscles going, I had quite a lot of cramp."

The 60ft (18m) forts were part of the Maunsell Forts, built to defend the country from air raids during World War Two.

In August 2024, Whitstable resident Dan Brown became the first person to swim from the forts to the Kent coast, recording a time of five hours and six minutes according to Aspire.

He said: "[Rebekah] was on the support crew for me.

"She was very interested in the swim and it was very good to have her on board.

"Now she's the first woman to have ever done the swim and it was lovely to be on board helping her."

Rebekah said her next challenge could be swimming across the Straits of Gibraltar.