A British endurance swimmer has spoken of the incredible moment he was protected from a shark by a pod of dolphins as he swam one of the toughest stretches of open water in the world.
Adam Walker is aiming to become the first Briton to complete the Oceans Seven challenge but was alarmed to find he was being accompanied by a hungry-looking shark as he crossed the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand last week.
However, he soon realised he had also been joined on the 16-mile (26km) swim by a pod of dolphins, which appeared to be protecting him.
Mr Walker, who is based in Nottingham, wrote on his Facebook page: "Yesterday I swam the 6th of the 'oceans seven' swims 'Cook Strait' in 8 hours 36 mins.
"But that doesn't tell the whole story rolling waves, big currents but more important than that a dream come true swimming with dolphins over an hour!! I'd like to think they were protecting me and guiding me home!!! This swim will stay with me forever."
Walker is already most of the way through the Ocean's Seven challenge, having previously completed swims across the English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Molokai Channel, Catalina Channel and Tsugaru Channel.
His final swim will be in August, when he will attempt to swim the North Channel, which separates Northern Ireland from Scotland.
He is raising money for Whale And Dolphin Conservation, to sponsor him, click here.