Late Nights withSara-Jayne King

Extreme swimmer Lewis Pugh has just completed a 560km swim along the entire length of the English Channel - from Land's End in Cornwall to Dover in Kent, over 49 days.

The aim is to raise awareness about ocean pollution and the loss of marine life in our waters.

He speaks to CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies about the experience and protecting the marine life from pollution.

I have never done a swim close to this distance before. The longest distance I have ever done in the open sea was around the Cape Peninsula, Waterfront all the way to the bottom of Cape Point.

— Lewis Pugh, Extreme Swimmer

The biggest adjustment is that I've been at sea for 49 days and my body is just shattered and I'm absolutely delighted that this swim is over.

— Lewis Pugh, Extreme Swimmer

Pugh had to do beach cleanups along the way and he says he was bothered by the amount of plastic found along the coast.

It is almost like we have hoovered up all the fish and threw the plastics in the ocean with no foresight to how this is going to have an impact on our children and grandchildren.

— Lewis Pugh, Extreme Swimmer

This was not actually a swim but a protest in speaking to the leaders of society about what is actually happening in our oceans. But all of this will be of no use at all unless we are able to create change.

— Lewis Pugh, Extreme Swimmer

Every time they offer you a single-use plastic, a straw or plastic fork and knife just say no because every time you say no to it you are saying yes to the environment.

— Lewis Pugh, Extreme Swimmer

To hear the rest of the conversation with Lewis Pugh, listen below: