On 15 July 2007, Lewis Gordon Pugh stood on the edge of sea ice at the north pole. He was wearing just his goggles and a pair of speedo swimming trunks. The water into which he was about to plunge was minus 1.7० centigrade. This was no in-and out dip into the world's coldest water. Lewis was about to undertake the first long-distance swim across the North Pole. There was a very good chance he might die.