EastEnders star Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell in the popular soap, was one of 390 people who took part in the annual Castle to Castle Swim across the River Fal in Cornwall yesterday.
The swim, which raises money for the RNLI, is set across a mile-long course between Pendennis Headland on the Falmouth side of the river and a beach near St Mawes.
In sunshine and calm but cold water, the fastest swimmer was Haddon Page, from Redruth, who clocked a time of 22 minutes 9 seconds, just 42 seconds off the course record.
Portreath surf Lifesaving club member Emily Theobald, who was swimming the event for the first time, was both the first woman home in a time of 24 minutes 55 seconds and also the fastest under-18.
McFadden, who is said to be a keen supporter of the lifesaving charity, clocked a time of 37 minutes and 36 seconds and said he enjoyed the swim, especially because he'd shaved 10 minutes off his personal best.
The event, which raises around £30,000 for charity each year, is run by an army of 50 volunteers and was started this year by mussel diver Matt Vernon. Earlier this year he had tried valiantly to save grandmother Ann Pewter from her car when it rolled in to the River Fal while waiting for the King Harry Ferry.
The last person to finish yesterday's sea swim was Peter 'Bunny' Bartell from St Agnes, who is in his late sixties.
He was greeted by the loudest cheers of the day from the crowd watching the swim, when he stepped ashore after one hour, 15 minutes and 11 seconds. Guy Botterill, RNLI community fundraising manager, who organised the event thanked all the volunteers who he said ensured the event was a success.
