A HARDY fundraiser who spent more than 15 hours swimming the English Channel, was back at his desk the very next day.

Determined Jonathan Spriggs, 43, braved gruelling water temperatures to swim the 22-mile stretch from Dover to Calais, raising £16,000 for charity in the process.

At times the dad-of-three, of Church Lane, South Hanningfield, faced a mental battle to keep going.

Jonathan, a former Billericay School pupil, said: “Towards the end, for about three hours, I just wasn’t getting anywhere because of the tide.

“It was so frustrating but I just didn’t want to give in. My thigh muscles then seized up but I managed to carry on and eventually I made it in 15 hours and 27 minutes.”

Jonathan did the swim for the charity Cancer Vaccine, after his close friend from Oxford University, Annette Pullan, died of cancer last year.

Trader Jonathan, managed to get sponsorship from his friends at BNP Paribas bank in London, who helped him smash through his £10k target.

To show his appreciation to his work colleagues, Jonathan returned to work the following day.

He added: “Although I was aching big time I went into work the next day as I wanted to make sure everyone gave their sponsorship money in on time!

“Everyone at work was wonderful in their support for me.

“As I walked into work the entire office stood up and gave me a standing ovation.”

Jonathan trained for the feat at Gloucester Park Swimming Pool in Basildon.

Jonathan’s wife Sasha, 40, who anxiously waiting in Calais for him to arrive, said: “I’m so proud of him. They say swimming the channel is one of the hardest things you can do, so good for him!”