Opodo travel news
Seven-year-old boy escapes from Alcatraz
23 May 2006
A seven-year-old boy has entered the record books by swimming from the notorious former prison Alcatraz to San Francisco.
Arizona schoolboy Braxton Bilbrey took 47 minutes to swim the 1.4 miles through the cold waters of San Francisco bay, becoming the youngest swimmer to complete the challenge.
After coming out of the shark-infested waters, he described the feat as being "pretty cool" and claimed his next target was the English Channel.
Since closing its doors to the US's worst criminals in 1963, Alcatraz has become a major tourist attraction with around one million visitors a year.
Tours of the island take in the prisoners' cells, the lighthouse - the oldest on the US west coast - and the island's birdlife.
Alcatraz also holds a series of swimming and triathlon events across the bay and into San Francisco throughout the year, although usually only adults are allowed to compete.
For sporty visitors, instead of the traditional walking tour of a city, it is also possible to take a running tour with a running guide. This makes it possible to keep in shape and see the streets of San Francisco.
© Adfero Ltd
Arizona schoolboy Braxton Bilbrey took 47 minutes to swim the 1.4 miles through the cold waters of San Francisco bay, becoming the youngest swimmer to complete the challenge.
After coming out of the shark-infested waters, he described the feat as being "pretty cool" and claimed his next target was the English Channel.
Since closing its doors to the US's worst criminals in 1963, Alcatraz has become a major tourist attraction with around one million visitors a year.
Tours of the island take in the prisoners' cells, the lighthouse - the oldest on the US west coast - and the island's birdlife.
Alcatraz also holds a series of swimming and triathlon events across the bay and into San Francisco throughout the year, although usually only adults are allowed to compete.
For sporty visitors, instead of the traditional walking tour of a city, it is also possible to take a running tour with a running guide. This makes it possible to keep in shape and see the streets of San Francisco.
© Adfero Ltd
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