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A female endurance swimmer said seeing a seal while she was swimming across the English Channel gave her a "much needed lift".

Eva Buzo began her swim from Dover to France overnight with sunrise being her first goal as she set herself targets for the long-distance endeavour.

Ms Buzo said: "The seal came at the perfect time, just before the sun came up and it gave me extra motivation. It was a good distraction."

She said she was not concerned about the distance but was more worried about water temperature in the Channel.

Ms Buzo, who comes from Australia, said she swims with a turtle called Gerald when she is at home who keeps her company when she goes on longer swims.

She said of her encounter with the seal: "It wasn't something I was expecting to see and you can't rely on the ocean - you often get currents against you and sometimes, stingers.

"This was a beautiful surprise."

Ms Buzo completed the cross-Channel swim in10 hours and 49 minutes.

She is now preparing for her next long distance swim - from Italy to Albania

It will be her second attempt at this swim, after the first one had to be abandoned 10km from the end due to the adverse weather conditions.

After a gap, Ms Buzo took up long distance swimming again during the Covid pandemic .

She describes herself like a "duck taking to water" and says she feels "at home in the water", which is what "attracts me to long distance swims".

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