A Wrong Click Turned Into a Six-Mile Charity Swim

A simple computer mistake turned into an extraordinary challenge for a 57-year-old man from Wiltshire, England, who ended up swimming six miles in London’s Hyde Park for charity.

Mike Thorpe had originally planned to swim just one mile in the Swim Serpentine event. His wife, Susanna, was supposed to register six people for the shorter distance, but accidentally selected the six-mile option for one person instead.

Rather than cancel the registration, Thorpe decided to take on the unexpected challenge.

He spent four months preparing for the swim, training five days a week at the Marlborough Leisure Centre and also swimming in open water at Cotswold Water Park.

The challenge was considerably tougher than he had expected. The water temperature was around 16.9°C, and Thorpe was swimming with a frozen shoulder that made front crawl difficult. He completed the six-mile distance using breaststroke.

About 6,000 people took part in this year’s Swim Serpentine, but only around 50 attempted the six-mile course.

At one point during the swim, officials checked on Thorpe because he was shaking from the cold. With only about a mile left, however, he decided to continue.

When he finally reached the finish, Thorpe said he could hardly walk and was staggering because of the exhaustion.

But the difficult swim had a purpose beyond personal achievement. Thorpe raised about £4,500 for the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, a charity that supports older and vulnerable people and helps protect them from scams and cyber fraud.

Thorpe later described the experience as both frightening and rewarding. What began with his wife’s accidental click ultimately became a months-long training effort and a major fundraising achievement.

The story is a reminder that an unexpected mistake does not always have to end in frustration. Sometimes, it can lead to a challenge that gives people a reason to push themselves — and help others along the way.

Sources: BBC Radio Wiltshire, October 5, 2026; Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.