A FORMER Greenock fireman is taking the plunge on a marathon swim in the North Atlantic — among Orca whales and giant jellyfish.

John Dyer, 60, is part of a nine-person relay team swimming 65 miles from the island of Harris to St Kilda for charities, starting on Monday.

They had to give up an attempt to do it last year because of bad weather, but are determined to make it this time.

He will use his body and mind during the epic challenge.

He said: “I’m physically and mentally more prepared than last year, and again I plan to use meditation to help me.

“I learned meditation at the Buddhist Centre in Glasgow and I went to India as part of it. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

“Swimming long distances is all about focusing — and meditation definitely helps.” The brave swimmers are going from Hushinish on the Isle of Harris to Sy Kilda to raise money for The Leanne Fund, The Fishermen’s Mission, Yorkhill Children’s Charity and Aberlour Child Care Trust.

They will be supported by three kayakers and a cabin cruiser, and hope to be first team to complete the epic venture.

John said: “We managed to swim about 22 miles last year until the weather got the better of us.

“Thanks to support from TalkTalk, we’ve been able to pick ourselves up and try the challenge again.

“Our two-week weather window starts from Monday. We’ll rest and sleep between swimming stints. We’re hoping we can do 45 minutes each, depending on how rough the sea is, before getting back on board and letting the next person take over, and it should take two to three days.” Apart from the whales, massive Lion’s Mane jellyfish could lie in wait.

John said: “There’s no record of Orcas attacking humans in the wild, although they have attacked them in captivity. As for the jellyfish, they could give you a very bad sting, even ‘though we’ll be wearing wet suits.” John is an experienced open water swimmer and a member of Inverclyde Masters Swimming Club, whom he thanked for their support.

Some of his extensive training has been done in Gourock Pool, by swimming up and down off Greenock Esplanade and from Kilcreggan to Greenock.

He got involved last year when he was asked to join the team by a friend, and jumped at the chance.

John said his wife, Bernadette, thinks he’s ‘mad’, but is very supportive.

He also enjoys running, and has completed the former 35-mile ‘Two Bridges’ ultramarathon, which included the Kincardine and Forth bridges, in five hours 30 minutes.

The fitness fanatic also took part in a fire brigade 12 hour running relay around New York’s Shea Stadium in 1990.

Last year’s swim raised £11,000, and it is hoped many more donations will flow in this year.

Information on how to donate is available at www.stkildaswim.co.uk