Devon man prepares for Bristol Channel swim

It will be first Swansea to Ilfracombe dip

A Devon man is in training to swim the Bristol Channel, in what will be a first recorded successful attempt from Ilfracombe to Swansea. Two swimmers have covered the distance previously, but have swum in the other direction from Wales to Devon.

Neil Gilson, who is from Ilfracombe plans to complete the 35-nautical-mile swim in July, though his training has been knocked sideways by a bout of covid-19; not least because he's now practicing in cold December temperatures. 

Mt Gilson aims to raise awareness of Paediatric Acute onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (Pans) and a subset of the disease called Pandas: Paediatric Auto-immune Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections, from which his children suffer. Something as simple as an ear infection, a bout of chickenpox, or even a covid-19 infection can result in children changing virtually overnight as antibodies cause a misdirected immune response affecting the brain. Children are often misdiagnosed as having a psychiatric illness or even just being naughty, when routine antibiotic treatment can resolve symptoms.

These conditions are characterised by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), tics (body jerking and repetitive movements), behavioural deterioration and eating disorders, like anorexia. Parents and children become prisoners in their own homes with their youngsters being unable to leave their homes and children attempting to jump out of windows, thoughts of self-harm or wasting away before their parent’s eyes from severe eating restrictions (anorexia).

Following regular bouts of tonsillitis which started at about 18 months of age, Jack Gilson developed severe OCD, tics and anxiety.  He stopped talking and eating and even struggled to get dressed as the clothes would cause his skin to hurt. Jack saw many doctors who decided it was Tourette’s or perhaps an allergy.  Jack became increasingly poorly and even started losing his fingernails and toenails.  At their wit’s end, Neil and Lucie saw an interview on ‘This Morning’ where a mother was speaking about her son’s illness, Pandas.  Neil and Lucie contacted the doctor who was interviewed who started Jack on antibiotics.  Within two weeks Jack was back to his cheerful self and almost all the symptoms had gone!  Following a tonsillectomy Jack continues to improve.  

Neil's daughter Lily has also been diagnosed with Pandas - she was diagnosed this summer and she responded really well to treatment.