James Argent set to celebrate first year of sobriety with epic swim to Africa
Former TOWIE star James ‘Arg’ Argent is planning to mark a year of sobriety by swimming from Europe to Africa
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James ‘Arg’ Argent is on a mission to celebrate a year of being clean and sober by taking part in an epic swimming challenge.
The former TOWIE star, 32, ditched his vices after he suffered from a near-fatal drug overdose in 2019, and to mark 12 months without booze and drugs, he’s planning to swim 10 miles from Europe to Africa.
Reality personality James – who split from Gemma Collins this year – has reportedly already began training for the long swim that fans will be able to follow on a TV special he is filming.
A source told The Sun : “It’s a mad thing to undergo, but Arg is at his best with a goal in mind.
“He’s told mates he’s determined to stay fit and well after a good year of doing so, so he is undertaking this as a challenge to himself.”
James has already been trained in perfecting his swimming strokes after he took part in Channel 4’s TV show, Sink Or Swim, last year – but sadly the main event of swimming across the Channel was axed due to poor weather condtions.
It can take over four hours to complete for trained swimmers, and James could bump into a number of life-threatening hazards such as sharks and jellyfish.
The insider added: “It’s a lot shorter crossing than the English Channel swim, and in warmer waters, but it’ll be more difficult than a few lengths in an Essex leisure centre. He’ll have to train hard to finish it without being eaten by a shark or splatted by a ship.”
The news of the impressive challenge comes after James pledged to stay sober to make amends to his mum.
Last week, the Essex native took to his Instagram page to share a sweet selfie alongside his pretty mum and penned a heartfelt caption.
He wrote: “I’ve put my Mother through so much over the last few years & it breaks my heart. The best way I can make amends and make it up to her is by staying clean & sober. We are going to have the most magical Christmas mum, I promise you! Love you with all my [heart emoji].”
In May, James told how he came close to death twice after overdosing on drugs while addicted to cocaine.
He found himself surrounded by paramedics twice last year after locking himself away and taking illegal substances on his own.
Arg said his family were worried he would die of an overdose on both occasions and his ex Gemma dialled 999.
The reality star admitted to being a heavy user of cocaine for seven years – and says his personal and professional lives impacted by his addiction.
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