An exhausted David Walliams greeted by worried wife Lara Stone as he completes a gruelling day three of his Thames swim

By Sarah Bull


You're a sight for sore stomachs! An exhausted-looking David Walliams looks delighted to see his wife Lara Stone as he completes day three of his Sport Relief swim challenge


After he was struck down by a nasty stomach bug, many feared that he may not be able to complete his charity swim of the Thames.

But David Walliams overcame his ailments to complete day three of the Sport Relief challenge - and immediately fell into his worried wife's arms.

The comedian arrived at Wallingford Bridge in Oxfordshire yesterday evening only an hour behind schedule.


And his concerned wife Lara Stone greeted him with a big hug as he climbed out of the water clearly exhausted but delighted to see his beloved.

Moments earlier she had stood by the water's edge looking very worried as she watched her husband swim towards her.

She then rushed down to meet him and flung herself into his arms, the relief he was ok clear on her face.

Relief: Lara and David flung themselves into each others arms as he climbed out the water

I'm so proud of you: Lara holds David's head in her hands as she gazes up at him in admiration


David contracted a serious stomach bug yesterday after swallowing some of the murky water.

Doubts were cast over his ability to complete the grueling 140-mile swim after he was struck down with a serious stomach bug and a high temperature and many feared that he may not pass a medical examination and be allowed back in the water.

But all in the name of a very good cause, he pushed through his pain to continue swimming making a slow, but steady pace.

Concerned: Lara looked close to tears as she watched her husband complete day three of the challenge


Before a short break this lunchtime the comedian had completed five miles this morning.

Yesterday he said: 'I always knew there was a risk that taking in the water could cause problems, but now it's happened it's still hit me really hard.'

'I was sweating in the night and have been to the toilet a lot this morning. When I heard the total raised had jumped to more than £200,000 it gave me a real boost, as do the thousands of people who have been turning out and cheering.'

Pushing through the pain: David Walliams was seen having a rub down as he stood in his wetsuit before taking to the water. He has swum five miles today so far


'There were so many last night I thought Take That were in a boat behind me.'

'This is already much harder than I thought it would be - but this Thames Tummy I've got is making the task seem incredibly difficult and London seems a long way away.'

A spokesperson for the swim told MailOnline: 'He is back in the water and a doctor has confirmed that his stomach is settling.'

'He is having to stop regularly to take re-hydration salts because he just can't keep anything down and he needs the fuel.'

Helping hands: David has been making slow and steady progress today but had to be helped out of the water for a rub down

Give us a hand: Walliams is helped out of the water as he prepares to take another break to rehydrate


In a picture posted on the Sport Relief Twitter page yesterday, Walliams appeared to be struggling to continue after coming down with 'Thames Tummy', an upset stomach caused by intake of the murky water which harbours a cocktail of bacteria such as E.coli, salmonella and hepatitis.

Walliams had attempted to put the bug behind him as he once again got into the water and tried to complete his 18 miles of swimming today.

And he did just that, even if he was an hour behind schedule

Struggling: David Walliams appears to be in a lot of pain as he receives a massage


He is swimming for up to eight hours a day in order to complete the challenge in just eight days.

In other pictures of Walliams' Sport Relief challenge, the comedian was seen receiving treatment from a physiotherapist in between swimming the length of the river.

Still clad in his wetsuit, Walliams grimaced as the physiotherapist gently helped him stretch out his sore legs.

You can do it! But Walliams got a lot of support along the way, with school children cheering as he swam past them in Wittenham, Oxfordshire

Fighting through: Walliams struggled through the pain to continue in his charity challenge


The comedian is attempting to swim from Gloucestershire to London over eight days to raise money for Sport Relief.

On Tuesday, the comedian was up at dawn in a bid to make up some of the distance he lost the day before.

He said: 'I was determined to make up for the time I lost yesterday so I started at dawn and made up two miles but the weather is causing a real issue.

Painful: As well as his aches and pains, Walliams has now contracted a serious stomach bug which is putting the swim into doubt

Demanding: Walliams is attempting to swim the length of the River Thames for Sport Relief


'The wind on my face is harsh and the torrential rain is making today extra difficult.

'Plus, the fact that I got up so early to make up for lost time means that I'm having to refuel more often, making the schedule difficult to stick to.

'Despite how tough it is, every pound donated is really helping to keep me going.'

Battling through: Walliams has been struggling with the physically-demanding swim


The BT Sport Relief Challenge: Walliams vs The Thames is being filmed for a documentary to be broadcast in the build-up to the Sport Relief weekend in March next year.

Walliams is no stranger to getting wet for a good cause - in 2006 he swam the Channel, raising £1 million in aid of Sport Relief.

He has also swum the Straits of Gibraltar, and last year cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End, also for Sport Relief.

Walliams, was supported by his wife, model Lara Stone, and mother Kathleen as he set off.


source:dailymail