Neil reaches Lake Maggiore as he tries to set swimming world record - to support his son's condition
Neil aims to swim all 10 major lakes in Switzerland - something which has never been done before
A Devon man's trying to become the first person to swim Switzerland’s ten largest lakes.
Neil Gilson, from Ilfracombe, is doing it to raise money and awareness for his young son's brain condition.
The 40 year old currently holds the Guinness World Record for fastest time to swim the length of Lake Geneva in 22 hr 9 min 38 sec and is using his personal experience of PANS and PANDAS to raise awareness and funds for children affected by the neuropsychiatric condition.
"There's a couple of reasons why I think no one's attempted this challenge before," said Neil.
"The first one being just how difficult it is mentally and physically just to swim this many lakes in such a short space of time. I think most ultra swimmers would just target one of these lakes.
"For me to succeed in this challenge it will mean a lot.
"I've put my heart and soul into it. We've got this plan for my children to swim the last bit with me on the last lake -and that's what I envision and think about every time I get in and train.”
The ‘Legend of the Lakes’ challenge will see him attempt to make history by covering all 369 kilometres, as he sets out to complete the final six lakes this year.
Neil is currently swimming Lake Maggiore, which borders both Switzerland and Italy and working closely with the Guinness World Records team to verify the feat that he plans to complete in August - as he prepares to deal with unpredictable weather, extremely dangerous currents, the constant risk of hypothermia and exhaustion.
He said, “I can honestly say this has been the most difficult challenge I’ve ever undertaken, but I’m more determined than ever and have learnt a lot from the lakes I swam last year, two of which I managed to get world records for (Neuchâtel and Biel) so I’m ready to go.
“Jack is going to meet me as I cross the finish line in Leman, so I know I’ll swim particularly fast across that lake to meet him.”
Following his record-breaking swim across Lake Geneva in 2024, where he broke a 38-year-old world record while raising funds for PANS PANDAS UK in a separate challenge, the former international swimmer returned to the water in June 2025 to begin the ‘Legend of the Lakes.’
“My son Jack was just 18 months old when he caught tonsillitis, and our world changed overnight,” Neil explained.
“He went to bed a happy, healthy little boy, and woke up as someone we didn’t recognise- he was suddenly gripped by aggression, OCD, tics, and intense fear; he also refused to eat, wouldn’t leave the house or even speak, and eventually began losing his fingernails and toenails.
“For a year, we searched for answers while his condition worsened; it was terrifying that nobody could offer a diagnosis or explain what was happening. As a family, we were desperate, it was heartbreaking.”
It was only while watching ITV’s This Morning that Neil came across a segment in which a mother described her son’s symptoms which were shockingly like Jack’s.
“A doctor on the show spoke about a treatable condition called PANS/PANDAS, which prompted me to contact our own GP.
“He admitted he hadn’t heard of it, but agreed that many of Jack’s symptoms aligned,” said Neil.
Neil was later able to arrange an appointment with the same specialist featured on the programme, which led to Jack finally being diagnosed with PANDAS - Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections.
“Jack is now 10-years-old and thriving, so I’m sharing our story through this challenge to help other families still searching for answers,” Neil added.
“While Jack still lives with some effects of PANDAS, we’re managing them well - but his diagnosis truly saved his quality of life. Sadly, many others aren’t as fortunate and remain completely unaware of the condition, so I’m determined to change that.”
For more about the challenge click here