Diana Nyad, 64, makes historic Cuba-Florida crossing

Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad has become the first person to swim from Cuba to the US without a shark cage.

After about 53 hours' non-stop swimming, the 64-year-old American reached Key West, Florida, escorted by boats and her team of 35 people.

Ms Nyad, who left a Havana yacht club early on Saturday, had vowed this would be her last attempt to cross the 110-mile (177-km) wide Florida Straits.

The breathless athlete told waiting TV crews: "I have three messages: one is we should never ever give up; two is you are never too old to chase your dreams; and three is it looks like a solitary sport but it takes a team."

Annita McVeigh reports.