Chilean Barbara Hernandez, who became the first person recorded to have swum 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) in the near-freezing Antarctic Ocean, says fear, not other people, is her rival.

Chilean Barbara Hernandez, who became the first person recorded to have swum 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) in the near-freezing Antarctic Ocean, says fear, not other people, is her rival. The 37-year-old completed the feat in 45 minutes and 30 seconds on February 5, wearing an ordinary swimsuit without additional padding, some goggles, a swimming cap and earplugs. Her only defence against a cold that would have killed many others: perseverance. The water temperature reached barely two degrees Celsius (35.6 Fahrenheit). "My biggest rival is fear... not (other) people," Hernandez told AFP after completing the glacial endeavour recognised as a first by the International Winter Swimming Association. She hopes it will also be inscribed in the Guinness World Records. "Fear of failure, of failing the people who trust in me, those are my main adversaries," said the Chilean swimmer nicknamed 'The Ice Mermaid'. Hernandez recounted her mind-over-body struggle completing the distance, about the length of 25 football fields - which started from a Chilean Navy ship near Greenwich Island in Antarctica. Read more: Explained: A new theory says Black holes are causing universe to expand Shortly after halfway, she said, "I felt something cold passing through my heart" - a known sign of hypothermia setting in, with the risk of heart attack and death. Hernandez did the only thing she knew how: she kept kicking and wading until she reached the finish: a buoy in the middle of the ocean. "It was a super difficult swim, tough," Hernandez told AFP. "After completing the first mile I felt that I would never reach the buoy... I felt... my arms getting heavier and heavier," she said. "But I did not concentrate on that." Melting Antarctic Hernandez said she had dreamt of the moment for a decade. But it is not only about pushing herself. She is also using her public profile to advocate for marine protection. "What scares me is that Antarctica keeps melting. That really scares me," she said. "When I was swimming, that was one of the things I was thinking about. My legs hurt, but I felt strong. I thought: This is not just for me, it is the cause we wanted to make visible. That gives you a boost." Last week, the National Snow and Ice Data Center in the United States reported that the Antarctic Ocean area covered by ice has shrunk to a record low. After completing her swim, Hernandez was plucked from the icy waters and admitted to the onboard clinic of the Janequeo navy ship. Read more: US swimming experts impart training and life skills to underprivileged girls in India By the time she got there, her body temperature was just 27 C, far below the average of about 37 C for a person in good health. She never lost consciousness, though she did ramble incoherently for a bit. Within two hours, she was back to her old self, Hernandez recounted. Her next challenge will be the Oceans Seven marathon which consists of swimming through seven channels or straits around the world, finishing in Japan in August. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Barbara Hernandez completes 2.5 km Antarctic swim, becomes first person to achieve the feat

British endurance swimmer and United Nations patron of oceans Lewis Gordon Pugh braved the freezing temperatures of East Antarctica, swimming in its icy rivers, to raise awareness about climate change.

Swimmer raises awareness on climate change in freezing Antarctic waters

The temperature of oceans in 2017 reached a record high, putting the marine ecosystems in jeopardy, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said.

Compared to 2015, the extra heat in the upper two kilometres of sea water across the globe in 2017 was 700 times the energy China&#39;s electricity used in 2016, the CAS said in a report.

The Atlantic and Antarctic oceans warmed up the fastest, as warming has already taken place in most of the other seas, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.

The marine ecosystems remain in jeopardy as a result, with coral reefs and the creatures that live on them threatened, researchers at the institute said.

The expansion caused by warming contributes to rising of sea levels, while more sea ice and ice shelves will melt and ocean currents will be affected.

The heat content of the ocean is a key indicator of climate change. Due to its high specific heat capacity, sea water contains the main signals, as it stores 90 per cent of the energy for global warming, it said.

The Atlantic and Antarctic oceans warmed up the fastest, the academy said.

The temperature of oceans in 2017 reached a record high, putting the marine ecosystems in jeopardy, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said. Compared to 2015, the extra heat in the upper two kilometres of sea water across the globe in 2017 was 700 times the energy China's electricity used in 2016, the CAS said in a report. The Atlantic and Antarctic oceans warmed up the fastest, as warming has already taken place in most of the other seas, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying. The marine ecosystems remain in jeopardy as a result, with coral reefs and the creatures that live on them threatened, researchers at the institute said. The expansion caused by warming contributes to rising of sea levels, while more sea ice and ice shelves will melt and ocean currents will be affected. The heat content of the ocean is a key indicator of climate change. Due to its high specific heat capacity, sea water contains the main signals, as it stores 90 per cent of the energy for global warming, it said.

2017 sees warmest ocean on record: Chinese academy

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Barbara Hernandez completes 2.5 km Antarctic swim, becomes first person to achieve the feat

Swimmer raises awareness on climate change in freezing Antarctic waters

2017 sees warmest ocean on record: Chinese academy