A former detective has achieved a world-first becoming the first paralysed person to complete a cross channel relay swim without wearing a wetsuit.

Paula Craig, who lives in Watford, was part of a six-strong relay team to swim the English Channel in aid of spinal injury charity, Aspire.

Paula swam in one hour shifts, resting while her other team members took their turn.

The team, named the Aspire Mutts after Paula’s cockerpoo, swam the 22-mile English Channel relay swim in 14 hours and three minutes last week with Paula taking on two hour-long swims.

Watford Observer: The Aspire Mutts in Dover before the team set off to swim the ChannelThe Aspire Mutts in Dover before the team set off to swim the Channel

Her teammates said that it was her bravery and incredible core strength that got her through the challenge.

Paula, a former detective inspector in the Met’s serious crime team and awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to policing , was left paralysed and in a wheelchair after a road accident in May 2001, when she was knocked from her bike while training for a triathlon.

After her accident she was determined to continue her sporting activities and within a year she completed the 2002 London Marathon in two hours 48 minutes, making her the only person to have run and pushed the London Marathon.

She has also competed as a wheelchair triathlete at an international level.

Watford Observer: Paula on the boat between swimsPaula on the boat between swims

When a bone infection prevented her from competing as a wheelchair athlete Paula intensified her swimming training.

Her achievement pn August 4 makes her the first person with a complete spinal injury to swim the Channel without a wetsuit.

She said: “I’m exhausted but relieved and excited that we made it to France.

“The rest of the team were incredible, supporting me all the way and helping me get back onto the boat after my swims.

“I support Aspire whenever I can because the charity is the reason I am where I am today, in terms of both my physical and mental wellbeing."

Watford Observer: Paula and her team had to devise a special way to get her back onto the boatPaula and her team had to devise a special way to get her back onto the boat

Paula's epic challenge has raised more than £23,000 for Aspire via a Just Giving page which can be found at www.justgiving.com/paulacraig

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