21 Sep 2026
A 16-year-old St Columba’s College student has completed a solo crossing of the English Channel in support of YoungMinds, the UK charity fighting for young people’s mental health.
Felipe Irvine walked into the dark water at Samphire Hoe, near Dover, at 2am on Monday September 14 and cleared the beach at Plage du Châtelet, France, after 11 hours and 20 minutes. On
the support boat were his parents, Wera and Jeremy Irvine, his friends Prisha Tapre and Jeffrey Gill, and photographer Paul Meyler.
Felipe had wanted to become a Channel swimmer since he was 12. Association rules meant he had to wait until after his 16th birthday. He did not want to wait any longer.
Bad weather had already closed his tide window, leaving him the choice of postponing for a year or taking on rough water. Force 4 winds were forecast. Only four of 12 Channel escort boats were
prepared to go out, and one of those cancelled after the midnight forecast. Felipe chose to swim.
An experienced open-water competitor with the British Long Distance Swimming Association, Felipe has raced in a wide range of conditions and is known among his support team for reframing discomfort rather than being stopped by it.
After a short tender ride to the stony beach in darkness, a siren marked the start. He walked into inky water and was soon alongside the escort boat, being cheered on.
The first three feeds were in the dark, on the hour: hot, carbohydrate-loaded fluid thrown to him in a tethered bottle. He powered through the shipping lanes, feeding quickly and in good spirits.
The swell became severe as the tide turned just south of Cap Gris-Nez. The pilot told the crew to sit down for their own safety as the boat was thrown about. at times Felipe rose above the gunwale, at others he disappeared from view. The waves slowed him, but without a grumble he kept his head down and fought through.
The tide carried the swim north of the Cap and into the shelter of the bay, where the French beach came into sight. Told that this was his last feed, Felipe’s face lit up and his pace increased. He finished in 11 hours 20 minutes.
Felipe said: “I’m proud to support YoungMinds because every young person deserves access to mental health support. The charity provides advice, resources, and essential services for young people, like myself and their families. Every donation helps ensure that no young person has to face their mental health challenges alone.
“I have chosen to support YoungMinds because I know what it’s like to suffer in silence, feeling that speaking up would only burden others or that there is no one to turn to. I want to help ensure that every young person has access to the support they need and knows they are never alone.”
A spokesperson for St Columba’s College said: “When Felipe walked into school the day after swimming the Channel, his determination left us in awe. It hardly seems believable.
“Swimming for more than 11 hours, including the first three hours in complete darkness, Felipe took on one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges: crossing the English Channel.
“Why did he do it? Because he fancied the ultimate challenge. Even more inspiring, he undertook this extraordinary feat to raise money for YoungMinds and, so far, has raised more than £5,500.
“After four years of dedicated preparation, training at Denham Lake, Bournemouth and Dover Harbour, conditions were finally perfect and the swim began. Through resilience, determination and sheer grit, Felipe successfully completed the crossing before returning to school the very next day.
“We know our community is pretty special, and we are fortunate to have some truly amazing students, but this is a story we couldn’t be prouder to share.”
You can still sponsor Felipe’s efforts at https://www.justgiving.com/page/felipe-irvine
