Teacher who survived bear attack becomes fastest and oldest person to swim the Shannon

"The journey was magic, it's surpassed my wildest dreams, I was blessed with amazing weather, and the support I had from people made it really really easy."

"I needed the support of Pieta and I called them several times and they were very good to me - I probably wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for Pieta House."

"I think the silence (around mental health) is the biggest killer, and I think people need to know the signs when they have loved ones suffering from mental health issues and when they are suicidal."

"As each of the ten days swimming the Shannon passed, Higgins grew stronger and stronger, and coming into Limerick I was full of swimming, I felt like swimming out into the Atlantic."

Read at Irish Independent