Joseph shares everything on Instagram about his grueling adventure, which does not go without a fight. Sore shoulders, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, cuts, bruises. These are all things that long-distance swimmers have to deal with. On the third day of the swimming adventure, Joseph has already contracted a gastrointestinal infection. He is constantly monitored by a medical team.
But the fit German is not deterred. He also has some experience as a long-distance swimmer. He has previously swum from Corsica to Sardinia and through the Strait of Gibraltar from Europe to Africa. The 34-year-old works at Chemnitz University of Technology. For him, this adventure is a nice distraction from his office job.
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Sewer
But as sporty as it is, Gerard Stroomberg (director of RIWA-Rijn) calls Joseph’s swimming adventure ‘life-threatening’. “First of all, there are health risks for the swimmer”. he says. “There are many bacteria in the water of the Rhine from sewage treatment plants and bird droppings.”
According to him, the Rhine is no longer so dirty that you can no longer swim in it, ‘but it is not smart’. “Hess has only just arrived from Switzerland and has already contracted an intestinal infection after three days. That is not surprising”, says Stroomberg.
He adds that the busy shipping traffic also makes swimming in the Rhine dangerous. “Especially at low water levels, when there is less room on the river, it is not safe for a swimmer.”
Erasmus Bridge
Joseph started his swim in Switzerland on 11 June. On 30 June he reaches the Netherlands and on 4 July his journey ends in the North Sea.
He told RTV Rijmond that he preferred to swim under the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, just like Ernst Bromeis did in 2014 during his Rhine marathon. Unfortunately, he did not receive permission to do so. The German will drive to the Berghaven in Hoek van Holland on July 24 for the last stretch.