Paralympian completes Ironman feat in under 24 hours

Lyndon Longhorne competed in the Tokyo Paralympics

A Paralympian has become the first quadruple amputee to complete a gruelling Ironman Triathlon in less than 24 hours.

Lyndon Longhorne, from Crook, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, completed a 2.4-mile (3.8km) swim, 112-mile (180km) bike ride, and 26.2-mile (42.2km) run, making history with just 30 seconds to spare.

"It was the most horrendous thing I've ever done, but I'm so proud," Mr Longhorne said afterwards, at the finishing line in Liverpool.

The amputee previously represented Team GB in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics before retiring from professional swimming last year.

When he was just eight months old, Longhorne contracted meningitis, which caused him to lose both his legs, his right hand, and the fingers of his left hand.

He crossed the finish line after completing the three legs of the event in 23 hours, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, but said he felt ready to give up after the first.

"I can't thank everyone enough for their support but I'm never doing anything like that again," the 29-year-old said.

"I was ready to give up after the first leg of the marathon. I was done."

Lyndon Longhorne had to swim 2.4 miles as part of the challenge

TV star Carol Vorderman paid tribute to Lyndon's "extraordinary" effort, labelling him a "superstar".

"His determination is beyond anything most of us could even imagine," she said.

The athlete was backed by a team of experts from Liverpool John Moores University.

His coach, Dr Nic Robinson, said: "We knew it was going to be close. We knew if he made it to two miles [out] with 30 minutes left, he could do it – and he got to two miles with 27 minutes to go.

"That last two miles was some kind of Superhuman effort.

"I'm lost for words, really. I think it's incredible."