Forklift driver becomes fastest man walking in pool

Adam Lopez beat the world record by four and a half minutes

A forklift truck driver has broken the world record for the fastest time recorded running a mile in a swimming pool.

Adam Lopez ran 63 lengths of a 25m (82ft) pool at Nuffield Health in Norwich on Tuesday.

He completed the challenge in 35 minutes and 24 seconds; four and a half minutes faster than the existing record.

The 37-year-old was also raising money in aid of a five-year-old girl with spinal muscular atrophy.

Listen: Adam Lopez's underwater record attempt

Mr Lopez started going to the pool after he was diagnosed with diabetes.

"When someone tells you your life's under threat it changes your complexion on how you look at your mortality," said Mr Lopez, from Taverham in Norfolk.

"Sometimes we take our lives for granted and our health for granted and we shouldn't, we should look after ourselves, look after our body because it's the only place you've got to live."

Grace's mother Rebecca said the family were "forever grateful" that Mr Lopez wanted to help fundraise for Grace

The challenge was part of a fundraiser for a series of home renovations for Grace, including a hydrotherapy pool.

"When I knew she was coming it was different... on the return lap, I looked at her and she looked at me," he recalled.

Her mother Rebecca said the family were "forever grateful" and added: "She has really shown us what life is about, she is exceeding expectations... this will mean we can spend time as a family together, it will be great therapy for her."

The family have so far raised more than £32,000.

Mr Lopez had supporters at the pool cheering him through the challenge

Mr Lopez said he would celebrate the achievement with another trip to the swimming pool for a training session.

"A world record holder - I didn't see that one coming 12 months ago."

The footage of his feat will need to be reviewed by Guinness World Records before it is certified, and a spokesperson said: "We look forward to receiving evidence from the attempt for our records management team to review."