Film on first British female Channel swimmer

Mercedes Gleitze at her successful attempt to become the first woman to swim the Straits of Gibraltar

A film has been released to celebrate the life of Mercedes Gleitze, from Brighton, the first British woman to swim the English Channel.

Vindication Swim was released in cinemas on 8 March, International Women's Day.

Ms Gleitze, who worked as a typist, was successful on her eighth formal attempt to making the crossing on 7 October 1927, in 15 hours and 15 minutes.

Writer and director Elliott Hasler said she was an "incredible woman, and really one who never should have been lost to history."

In 2022, a blue plaque in honour of Ms Gleitze was unveiled in Brighton

Alongside her channel swim, Ms Gleitze completed several endurance swims including becoming the first woman to swim the Straits of Gibraltar.

Mr Hasler said: "She was a working class woman (with an) ordinary background.

"She had these dreams and didn't give up on them."

The writer said he wanted to honour this in the film by "doing everything for real".

"We shot it out in the English Channel two miles out where Mercedes herself would have swam," Mr Hasler explained.

"We shot it out in the English Channel," Mr Hasler said

Kirsten Callaghan, who plays Ms Gleitze, trained for months ahead of the film and did not use a stunt double.

Mr Hasler said actor John Locke, who plays Ms Gleitze's coach Harold, was struck with really bad seasickness during filming.

"He would be vomiting over the boat one side, delivering his lines to camera the other side," Mr Hasler explained.

Kirsten Callaghan did not use a stunt double in the English Channel

But, Mr Hasler said, it was Ms Gleitze's perseverance that inspired everyone on the project to carry on.

The writer said he hoped people learn from Ms Gleitze's story to not "be daunted by anything" and never "give up on your dream".