Andy Donaldson completed a record-breaking 34-mile swim through crocodile-inhabited waters in Western Australia, finishing the gruelling challenge in under 12 hours. The 35-year-old entered the Ord River just after 5:00 a.m. on April 29. He swam from Lake Argyle Dam wall to the Diversion Dam in Kununurra. The river runs through the remote Kimberley region. Experts estimate around 5,500 crocodiles live there. Read More: Australia Cracks Down on Gambling Ads in Major Reform Donaldson completed the route in 11 hours and 51 minutes, beating the previous record by more than four hours, according to reports from Australian Associated Press and ABC Australia. Despite the risks, he said he did not encounter any crocodiles during the swim. “I still have all my limbs,” he joked. “I didn’t see a single one, other than the Crocs that my coach was wearing on his feet. I don’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.” Heat, Currents and Mental Strain Donaldson faced multiple physical challenges throughout the swim, including strong currents and intense heat.The effort proved mentally and physically draining after nearly 12 hours in the water. “I felt like I was carrying an elephant on my back,” he told AAP. “Mentally, I was fatigued, physically, I was fatigued. I’d been sweating for over 10 hours, and I think I was quite dehydrated, so my muscles were starting to cramp really hard.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Andy Donaldson (@andy.swimming) He added that the psychological aspect of endurance played a critical role in completing the challenge. “The mind always gives up before the body does,” he said, noting that he could have continued swimming if required. Support came from Simone Blaser, who became the first person to complete the same Ord River ultra swim in 16 hours and 13 minutes two years ago. She joined Donaldson for part of the route and helped pace sections of the swim. A Career Built on Extreme Endurance Donaldson has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading endurance swimmers. Born in Scotland, he has set multiple records across open water challenges globally. These include the fastest swim across the Cook Strait between New Zealand’s North and South Islands and a record relay circumnavigation of Bahrain. He also previously held the fastest time for the Oceans Seven, a demanding series of seven channel swims across different continents. His achievements also include the fastest circumnavigation of Manhattan Island, a benchmark event in marathon swimming. Read More: Man Sets Bizarre Guinness World Record by Passing Balloons Through Nose and Mouth Andy said he plans to pause before deciding his next challenge. “It’s important to celebrate the achievement, lift up the people that have helped make it possible, and just reflect on the learnings from it before moving on,” he told AAP. Experts say extreme swims like this highlight both the risks and the growing appeal of endurance sports. The Ord River route, known for its wildlife and harsh conditions, now stands as one of the most demanding river swims completed in record time.