BRAVE ZAHRA

DOVER, July 1: Strong currents thwarted 17-year-old Zahra Masoumah Abdul Halim?s ambition to swim across the English Channel after 12 hours and 28 minutes in the water. She was pulled out of the water despite her protestations.

   Four hours after leaving Shakespeare  beach here,  strong currents took her away from the intended course. She was heading towards Holland instead of Calais and it took her a few hours before she was back on track.

   She had endured more hours in the water, fighting the currents, compared with others who had aborted their attempts in lesser time.

   Zahra left Shakespeare beach at 6.07am.

  All the while, she had been apprehensive about the cold and was not prepared for the currents.

   Asked whether she would try the channel swim again, Zahra said, it was a challenge and a good first-time experience.

   Although Zahra failed, her courage served as a role model for other teenagers. Zahra can hold her head high. She can share her unforgettable experience with fellow Malaysians, and the sea will be there if she wants to do it again.