Boy swim across the Strait of Messina

ROME, Oct 16: A 10-year-old Italian boy became the youngest person ever to swim across the Strait of Messina when he made the crossing from Sicily to the Italian mainland in 55 minutes and 30 seconds.

Giuseppe Mangano, who can see the Strait from his house in Messina, Sicily, completed the 3,700 metre crossing yesterday, despite poor weather conditions, high waves and being stung by two jellyfish.

''It's a dangerous stretch of sea because of the currents,'' Giuseppe's trainer, Francesco Cacopardo, told ANSA news agency.

''But Giuseppe was superb, he never got flustered, I knew everything would go well this morning when I saw his eyes sparkling with joy and determination.'' Giuseppe's father Baldassare, who runs a local bar, said he was very proud but the family was not going to get carried away.

''We're happy because he's happy, but today ... will be like any other Sunday: lunch with his favourite pudding and then outside to play.''

Reuters