First person to swim Cook Strait dies

Published: 12:47PM Monday July 26, 2010 Source: Newstalk ZB

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

The first person to swim across Cook Strait has lost his battle with cancer.

Barrie Davenport crossed the Strait in 1962 as a 27-year-old.

He passed away last night on Australia's Gold Coast, where he lived with his wife Kirsten.

Close friend and lead pace swimmer, Chris Billington, says Davenport's life changed after the achievement with demonstration tours in the North Island and a civic reception.

Billington says that for a person who became famous, Davenport wasn't one to run around the place making it known.

He says Davenport wasn't that sort of guy and he was a contributor.

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• more...
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Latest NZ News Video

• RAW VIDEO: Firefighters at the scene of Auckland blaze (0:32) 
• School girls expelled for classroom prank (1:52) 
• Buildings checked after CTV collapse inquiry (2:04) 

NZ News

• Boy missing after bridge jump
• Port talks bring no resolution to strikes
• Window cleaner critically injured in Auckland
• Endangered sea lion shot on Otago Peninsula
• Pulp mill fined $37,000 over worker's fall
• Bus moved off highway after catching fire
• Boy crushed by log named

Most Popular

1. Drunk passenger convicted of airline abuse
2. Endangered sea lion shot on Otago Peninsula
3. Boy crushed by log named
4. Bigamist sentenced to community work
5. Marines claim 'ignorance' after posing with Nazi symbol

rssLatest News

• 18:40 Kiwi sailors furious after Ocean Race crash
• 18:32 Boy missing after bridge jump
• 18:16 Shares rise, Fletcher reaches 4-month high
• 18:15 Huge bill to bring embassy staff home for RWC
• 17:57 Auckland block sells to car park operator

Advertising