The president swam to honor the achievement of Guðlaugur Friðþórsson
Around 40 people swam in the Westman Islands swimming pool and in Reykjavík to remember the rescue feat of Guðlaugur Friðþórsson, who swam to shore after the boat Hellisey VE sank 6 km from the Westman Islands on March 11, 1984. Photo/Baldur Kristjánsson
President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson swam the so-called Guðlaugssund swim in Laugardalslaug swimming pool this morning.
This is a six-kilometer swim that is taken to celebrate Guðlaugur Friðþórsson’s achievement of swimming to shore after the boat Hellisey VE 503 sank about three nautical miles east of Stórhöfði on Heimaey island on March 11, 1984. The president reports this on his Facebook page.
The President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson with Kristján Gíslason, who organized the swimming feat in Laugardalslaug swimming pool. Photo/Baldur Kristjánsson
The swim is also held in memory of Engilbert Eiðsson, Hjörtur R. Jónsson, Pétur Sigurðsson, and Valur Smári Geirsson, who died in the accident, and others who have been buried at sea here near Iceland.
Gudlaugssund was first swum in the Westman Islands in the year after the accident and since 2005 it has been scheduled in the capital area as well, as is stated on the president’s Facebook page.
