Exhausted after more than 40 hours in the water, Mickey Helps passed out about a mile off the south coast of England.
Mr Helps was swimming across the English Channel and back during the second part of a trilogy of fundraising swims in memory of his friend last month, when he collapsed.
From April: Epsom swimmer Mickey Helps to take on three of Europe's toughest swims for British Heart Foundation
His crew helped him aboard and were able to transport him to Epsom General Hospital where he was treated for respiratory problems, having pushed his body to the limit and swallowed a lot of saltwater. He has since been discharged.
From August: Epsom swimmer Mickey Helps to tackle British Channel to raise money for British Heart Foundation
Mr Helps, 50, of Longdown Lane North, Epsom, was raising funds for the British Heart Foundation with a series of three endurance swims to honour his friend, Mark Shepherd, 53, his former water polo captain, who died of a heart attack in January.
His crew, who shouted encouragement throughout the swim, stuck a photo of Mr Shepherd onto the boat to motivate Mr Helps.
He said: “Shep was in my memories out there.
“(His photo on the boat) inspired me when it was getting a bit tough.”
Mickey with his boat crew, L-R: Paul Hoskins, Greg Dodds, Mick Helps, Matt Holland, William Helps
Mr Helps swam the eight miles between Europe and Africa at the Gibraltar Straits in May, and set off on the hardest swim, the two-way Channel swim, on Thursday, August 25.
He has been forced to pull out of the third of the planned swims, the three-mile stretch between Europe and Asia at the Dardanelles Straits, due to health problems.
Mickey's crew plotted his route using Google Maps
During his Channel swim Mr Helps spent 43 hours in the water and covered 92.3 miles before collapsing about a mile from shore.
He explained that the average time for swimming one leg of the Channel can be about 14 hours, but with choppy conditions, his challenge became even harder and protracted.
He explained: “As I was coming out of the water into France I just thought, ‘What is the point? It’s so difficult’.
“But as I turned around I realised it was going to be down to grinding it out and determination versus the body: which will win? And that excited me.
“It was never an option for me to come out, but with each hour and with having to fight for each stroke, it was difficult.
“I was disappointed, but I realised I couldn’t have given any more.”
Mickey Helps preparing to swim the English Channel
Mr Helps has pledged to swim the Dardanelles strait next year, but said he will have to “seriously think” about attempting to swim the Channel again.
He explained: “It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort, and it puts as much on others as it does the swimmer.”
Mr Helps has raised more than £9,000 for charity to date, and hopes to reach the £15,000-mark by the end of his challenge.
For more information, or to donate, visit www.thehelps.co.uk
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