Blind Paralympian prepares for Channel swim attempt

Melanie Barratt was born with congenital toxoplasmosis, which left her with severe visual impairment

A Paralympic gold medallist is gearing up to attempt to be the first blind woman to swim the English Channel.

Melanie Barratt, from Leamington Spa, won two gold medals for swimming, as well as two silvers and a bronze, at the Atlanta and Sydney Paralympics, and is thought to be the first blind person to swim across Lake Geneva.

Her window to complete the 21-mile swim is from 27 August to 1 September, and should take her about 14 hours.

She said she always like a challenge and that the English Channel was like the Everest of swimming. The swim will raise money for British Blind Sport.

For her channel attempt, Ms Barratt will swim alongside a boat, using bone-conducting headphones to recieve instructions from her team

"I always like a challenge in life, this certainly has turned out to be quite a huge one, and I haven’t even swum it yet," she told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

Ms Barratt was born with congenital toxoplasmosis, a rare condition which left her with severe visual impairment, and only able to see colours and shapes.

During the swim, she will use special headphones to listen to instructions from her team.

She booked the swim attempt two years ago, and said there were would be elements totally out of her control.

"The weather, the waves, lots and lots of variables that I just have to deal with on the day and hope that it’s in my favour."

"Plus the jellyfish as well, there could be thousands of them."

She first learned to swim with British Blind Sport.

"I then found my love for the water, and went on to do well in the Paralympics, and without them I never would've done that.

"I'd like to give something back to them."