1
00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,490
What we thought we’d do Chris,
is just talk you through the plan,
2
00:00:36,661 --> 00:00:39,211
so you’ve got a rough idea
as to what you’re getting into.
3
00:00:40,206 --> 00:00:44,206
So, the main risk is really
that the longer you spend in the water,
4
00:00:44,294 --> 00:00:47,804
the risk goes up exponentially.
If you push yourself beyond the point
5
00:00:47,922 --> 00:00:50,802
at which you should be coming out,
there is a real risk you could die.
6
00:00:52,802 --> 00:00:54,052
Yup.
7
00:00:55,638 --> 00:00:56,888
CHRIS: As you can tell,
8
00:00:57,348 --> 00:01:00,688
the safety team have one or two concerns
about what I’m about to do.
9
00:01:01,811 --> 00:01:03,061
So do I.
10
00:01:05,231 --> 00:01:07,071
Right, this is where
we switch it on now, okay?
11
00:01:08,568 --> 00:01:11,198
Somehow, I’ve been talked
into an open water swim...
12
00:01:11,529 --> 00:01:12,609
Good.
13
00:01:14,365 --> 00:01:15,655
...in the Arctic.
14
00:01:16,409 --> 00:01:18,119
Impose your will on the sea.
15
00:01:19,829 --> 00:01:21,749
Two minutes! Two minutes!
16
00:01:23,792 --> 00:01:26,462
And if there’s one thing I really,
really hate...
17
00:01:30,131 --> 00:01:31,261
it’s the cold.
18
00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:38,640
Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this?
Why am I doing this?
19
00:01:51,027 --> 00:01:53,737
-Special change of scenery.
-Epic surroundings.
20
00:01:53,988 --> 00:01:55,868
I'll say, there's no mangoes falling off
the trees here!
21
00:01:56,074 --> 00:01:57,284
Yeah.
22
00:01:59,536 --> 00:02:03,616
As part of my mission to live longer,
I’ve traded the warmth of Australia
23
00:02:04,415 --> 00:02:05,625
for the frozen north.
24
00:02:08,336 --> 00:02:10,206
And along for the ride,
I’ve got these jokers.
25
00:02:11,005 --> 00:02:13,875
My younger brother Liam,
and my older brother Luke.
26
00:02:16,010 --> 00:02:18,140
When I invited them
to hang out at the beach,
27
00:02:18,304 --> 00:02:20,224
not quite sure this is what they imagined.
28
00:02:21,141 --> 00:02:22,481
Feather that clutch, mate.
29
00:02:22,851 --> 00:02:25,521
Dude, I can’t feel the floor.
These boots are a bit thick.
30
00:02:25,812 --> 00:02:27,862
We’ve let the worst driver
of all drive us.
31
00:02:27,981 --> 00:02:29,481
-Why is Chris driving, mate?
-Are you kidding?
32
00:02:29,566 --> 00:02:31,026
I’m the best driver ever, dude.
33
00:02:35,738 --> 00:02:38,828
We’re here with a man who says
extreme temperatures are actually
34
00:02:38,908 --> 00:02:42,498
gonna be good for me.
Sports scientist, Ross Edgley.
35
00:02:42,829 --> 00:02:45,869
I mean, it doesn’t get much better
than this really, does it?
36
00:02:45,957 --> 00:02:49,667
I mean, as a training ground,
as a sports lab...
37
00:02:50,128 --> 00:02:51,838
I'm in my element.
38
00:02:51,921 --> 00:02:53,971
I don't know
how comfortable I am with that!
39
00:02:55,967 --> 00:02:59,757
Ross Edgley is one of the fittest humans
on the planet.
40
00:03:02,932 --> 00:03:05,272
The kind of guy
who takes everything to the limit.
41
00:03:08,021 --> 00:03:12,031
He's the only person in the world
to swim all the way around Great Britain.
42
00:03:13,193 --> 00:03:16,033
And he did it in 157 days straight.
43
00:03:21,159 --> 00:03:23,489
CHRIS:
But then he takes it even further...
44
00:03:24,245 --> 00:03:26,955
...you know, with, like,
swimming in ice-cold water.
45
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,050
I believe we humans only really thrive
in the face of adversity.
46
00:03:38,259 --> 00:03:41,929
You find out about your physiology,
you find out about your mentality...
47
00:03:42,805 --> 00:03:46,475
and there are now theories that subjecting
your body to extreme temperatures
48
00:03:46,684 --> 00:03:48,604
could even help you live longer.
49
00:03:54,234 --> 00:03:57,034
And that is why I signed up
for this Arctic adventure.
50
00:04:00,406 --> 00:04:04,156
Ross might love the cold,
but I'm more like Goldilocks.
51
00:04:04,911 --> 00:04:07,661
Not too hot, not too cold,
I'm happiest right in the middle.
52
00:04:09,374 --> 00:04:12,174
And you’d think that staying
in a comfortable temperature
53
00:04:12,418 --> 00:04:15,128
is also the best way to keep healthy
for the long haul.
54
00:04:15,922 --> 00:04:20,342
But new science says embracing
extreme cold, and extreme heat...
55
00:04:22,095 --> 00:04:24,385
could force your body to upgrade
its defenses...
56
00:04:26,724 --> 00:04:29,644
and power up
its microscopic repair systems...
57
00:04:31,688 --> 00:04:36,188
which could cut the risks of disease,
and maybe add years to your life.
58
00:04:39,112 --> 00:04:42,572
So, it’s time
for some serious shock therapy.
59
00:04:46,077 --> 00:04:49,747
After three days of training,
Chris will attempt a cold-water swim
60
00:04:49,914 --> 00:04:52,714
that's going to test his body
to the absolute limit.
61
00:04:54,085 --> 00:04:58,335
Two hundred and fifty yards
across a bone-chilling Arctic Fjord,
62
00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:01,590
wearing nothing but swimming trunks
and a smile.
63
00:05:04,053 --> 00:05:08,683
If he can endure that, then maybe
he could fall in love with the cold...
64
00:05:10,601 --> 00:05:12,601
and make it part of his life.
65
00:06:02,695 --> 00:06:06,445
So, how’s your Australian physiology
coping with this?
66
00:06:06,532 --> 00:06:10,662
It's in complete shock right now.
My ears are about to snap off.
67
00:06:12,705 --> 00:06:16,495
They’re like little icicles
and I’m a little concerned.
68
00:06:26,511 --> 00:06:28,761
This is the plunge.
69
00:06:30,681 --> 00:06:31,721
Yeah.
70
00:06:31,849 --> 00:06:34,019
And I want you to basically get down
to your trunks, get in,
71
00:06:34,143 --> 00:06:37,313
and I just want you to experience the cold
at its rawest form.
72
00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,360
-Yeah.
-Think of it almost like a baptism.
73
00:06:39,482 --> 00:06:41,442
That’s what we’re doing.
Because you need to understand
74
00:06:41,526 --> 00:06:43,316
what's going on inside the body. So...
75
00:06:43,403 --> 00:06:45,783
Oh, it knows it's gonna freeze
in a second, yeah.
76
00:06:45,988 --> 00:06:47,318
-Yes. Yeah. This is it.
-Yeah.
77
00:06:47,573 --> 00:06:49,833
This is it. No, no, no.
But it's gonna be a shock to the body.
78
00:06:49,909 --> 00:06:50,949
I’m not gonna lie.
79
00:06:51,035 --> 00:06:52,825
-Yeah.
-I’m gonna be so honest with you.
80
00:06:53,246 --> 00:06:54,286
To prepare for the swim,
81
00:06:54,372 --> 00:06:57,462
the first step is subjecting Chris
to full immersion.
82
00:06:58,042 --> 00:07:02,632
The problem is that cold water triggers
some really powerful survival mechanisms.
83
00:07:03,047 --> 00:07:05,927
But if you’re training for an ice swim,
they actually work against you.
84
00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:09,849
I need Chris to understand
what those reactions feel like,
85
00:07:10,096 --> 00:07:12,136
and then start to tame them.
86
00:07:13,015 --> 00:07:14,635
One of the first things that
we're gonna experience
87
00:07:14,725 --> 00:07:16,185
is this gasp reflex.
88
00:07:16,310 --> 00:07:17,690
-The body's basically just going...
89
00:07:17,770 --> 00:07:20,860
Is exactly it. You wanna gasp,
perfectly normal. That is...
90
00:07:20,940 --> 00:07:22,860
-It’s just self-preservation.
-Mm-hmm. Perfectly normal.
91
00:07:22,942 --> 00:07:25,192
-Yeah. Once we start the timer...
-Yeah. Yeah.
92
00:07:25,278 --> 00:07:26,948
...once we’re in, make no mistake,
93
00:07:27,029 --> 00:07:29,159
we basically started
the timer on hypothermia,
94
00:07:29,365 --> 00:07:32,445
and to put it bluntly,
consciousness and dying.
95
00:07:32,535 --> 00:07:35,745
And saying, "goodbye, life."
Yeah. All right.
96
00:07:36,372 --> 00:07:38,922
Oh, yeah. Here we go!
97
00:07:40,126 --> 00:07:42,456
ROSS:
Before we let Chris loose in open water,
98
00:07:42,587 --> 00:07:45,207
I want to see if he can get through
the initial shock
99
00:07:45,631 --> 00:07:48,971
and tough it out for at least
a couple of minutes here in the harbor.
100
00:07:49,927 --> 00:07:54,017
Do I reckon this warm-blooded Aussie
can do it? I don't know.
101
00:07:55,057 --> 00:07:56,637
Oh, yes, this is a great idea!
102
00:07:56,767 --> 00:07:58,687
-Here we go.
-Follow my lead.
103
00:08:03,649 --> 00:08:04,689
All right.
104
00:08:12,950 --> 00:08:16,450
-That's it. Breathe, breathe.
-Oh, boy.
105
00:08:18,164 --> 00:08:20,084
-Good. Good. Really good.
-Whoo!
106
00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:21,540
-Breathe.
-Wow!
107
00:08:21,792 --> 00:08:24,002
Okay, there you go, okay.
There you go. So that's that gasp reflex.
108
00:08:24,295 --> 00:08:26,915
You know, that hyperventilation.
Control it. Control it.
109
00:08:27,048 --> 00:08:28,218
Don’t let it bully me.
110
00:08:28,466 --> 00:08:30,336
Self-preservation,
your body is going, "get out!"
111
00:08:30,468 --> 00:08:31,928
-But override that.
112
00:08:32,637 --> 00:08:34,097
-How we feeling?
-Oh, freezing.
113
00:08:34,222 --> 00:08:35,312
-Okay.
-Yeah.
114
00:08:35,598 --> 00:08:37,728
-Feels like I’m in the fire.
115
00:08:37,934 --> 00:08:41,484
-Okay, breathe! We are at one minute.
116
00:08:41,562 --> 00:08:42,812
-So, now, what's happening?
117
00:08:42,897 --> 00:08:44,147
Now we’ve got over that gasp reflex.
118
00:08:44,273 --> 00:08:45,323
No, no, we haven’t.
119
00:08:45,399 --> 00:08:47,609
-It's still going?
-I haven’t got over anything!
120
00:08:48,110 --> 00:08:49,570
ROSS:
Someone forgot to put the hot tap on.
121
00:08:49,695 --> 00:08:51,565
-Oh, God! Oh, God!
-CHRIS: As if things weren’t bad enough,
122
00:08:52,448 --> 00:08:55,488
Luke and Liam, and our buddy, Mick,
have got front row seats.
123
00:08:56,285 --> 00:08:57,285
Summer swim?
124
00:08:57,370 --> 00:08:58,910
-Yes, boys!
125
00:08:58,996 --> 00:09:00,036
Oh, God!
126
00:09:00,164 --> 00:09:01,964
CHRIS: Now, why did I invite them, again?
127
00:09:02,166 --> 00:09:03,746
How is it?
128
00:09:04,168 --> 00:09:05,958
Oh, it’s amazing, it’s so warm in here.
129
00:09:06,128 --> 00:09:07,458
What’s the level of shrinkage?
130
00:09:10,258 --> 00:09:12,798
How would you feel if I said,
"Let’s put our face under?"
131
00:09:13,553 --> 00:09:15,723
Okay, let's go.
132
00:09:17,682 --> 00:09:19,272
-Oh, boy.
-Oh, wow!
133
00:09:19,475 --> 00:09:21,135
-Terrible idea.
134
00:09:21,269 --> 00:09:22,899
-Yeah. I'm impressed.
135
00:09:23,229 --> 00:09:25,229
All right, I think we’ve proved our point,
right? Can we get out?
136
00:09:25,314 --> 00:09:26,694
Right.
Hang on, give me 30 more seconds.
137
00:09:26,774 --> 00:09:27,694
Oh, what?
138
00:09:27,817 --> 00:09:29,437
Can you feel that blood going away
from your extremities?
139
00:09:29,527 --> 00:09:30,987
Yeah, I can feel all sorts of pain.
140
00:09:31,070 --> 00:09:32,240
-So, quick test.
-Yeah.
141
00:09:32,321 --> 00:09:33,741
-Quick dexterity test for me.
-Yeah.
142
00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:35,030
-How's that?
-They feel like...
143
00:09:35,157 --> 00:09:36,867
-How quickly can you move your hands?
-...pins and needles!
144
00:09:39,537 --> 00:09:41,247
-Shit.
145
00:09:41,581 --> 00:09:42,541
-We are at...
-Awesome.
146
00:09:42,707 --> 00:09:44,827
-...two minutes, 50.
147
00:09:45,126 --> 00:09:47,546
-Talk to me. How are we feeling?
-I feel like I’m dying.
148
00:09:47,670 --> 00:09:49,510
-Okay...
149
00:09:49,714 --> 00:09:50,974
You actually probably are.
150
00:09:52,925 --> 00:09:54,545
-Let’s just get out!
-No, no, no, no,
151
00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,470
-give me 30 more seconds.
152
00:09:56,554 --> 00:09:58,064
-No, don't get out.
-Stop saying that!
153
00:09:58,139 --> 00:09:59,389
-Five minutes.
-Just another 30.
154
00:09:59,473 --> 00:10:01,103
We're done, we're done,
you did good, man. You're good.
155
00:10:01,183 --> 00:10:02,563
I don't think I can get out.
156
00:10:02,685 --> 00:10:04,805
-Nice, big man, nice.
-I can't...
157
00:10:04,937 --> 00:10:06,107
-Let's go.
-You got it, Chris.
158
00:10:06,188 --> 00:10:07,568
My hands, I can’t feel them.
159
00:10:07,690 --> 00:10:09,980
Go on, straight into push-ups, Chris!
160
00:10:10,109 --> 00:10:12,069
-Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
161
00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,320
Oh, my God, is there a towel somewhere?
162
00:10:15,531 --> 00:10:17,371
-I got it, I got it. Here you go.
163
00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:18,950
-What’s that towel?
-What are you...
164
00:10:19,076 --> 00:10:20,786
The world’s smallest towel!
165
00:10:22,538 --> 00:10:25,288
-It's okay, it's a warm wind.
-Oh, God. Wow.
166
00:10:25,541 --> 00:10:28,961
Fifty-year storm's coming in, guys,
we've got to get to safety!
167
00:10:33,132 --> 00:10:36,682
To safely recover from the shock,
we have to bring Chris's core temperature
168
00:10:36,802 --> 00:10:38,512
back to normal gradually.
169
00:10:39,013 --> 00:10:42,393
Man. My toes, mate.
170
00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:45,980
Keep it going, keep it going.
171
00:10:46,187 --> 00:10:47,267
Yeah, good. There you go.
172
00:10:47,563 --> 00:10:49,153
-Whoo!
-All right, on three.
173
00:10:49,315 --> 00:10:50,855
My fingers just don’t exist right now.
174
00:10:50,941 --> 00:10:52,231
ROSS:
They'll recover, don't worry about it.
175
00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:53,568
That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
176
00:10:53,653 --> 00:10:55,743
-I'm fine. Yeah, by far.
177
00:10:56,197 --> 00:10:57,737
-That was...
-That was terrific.
178
00:10:57,823 --> 00:10:59,283
-...the most awful thing.
179
00:10:59,450 --> 00:11:01,540
You know when you, like, regret moments
in your career?
180
00:11:03,371 --> 00:11:04,751
That was one, Ross.
181
00:11:07,291 --> 00:11:10,961
-Wow! That’s something else, Ross.
182
00:11:13,172 --> 00:11:15,682
CHRIS:
Being that cold, it’s just so intense.
183
00:11:18,052 --> 00:11:20,472
And I feel like I’m outside
of my comfort zone
184
00:11:20,554 --> 00:11:22,014
further than I've probably ever been.
185
00:11:22,223 --> 00:11:24,233
-Do you want me to hug you?
-My arms are cold.
186
00:11:24,392 --> 00:11:26,232
My arms are like freezing.
187
00:11:26,769 --> 00:11:28,229
-Thank you.
-There you go.
188
00:11:29,146 --> 00:11:30,856
Finger in there. Is that boiling? Yeah?
189
00:11:30,940 --> 00:11:31,980
-No idea.
190
00:11:35,528 --> 00:11:36,778
That was a struggle.
191
00:11:37,988 --> 00:11:41,198
And out in open water,
it's only gonna get harder.
192
00:11:42,827 --> 00:11:46,537
To stand any chance of doing this swim,
Chris has to start taming those reactions.
193
00:11:48,332 --> 00:11:51,632
And there are scientists who believe
controlling the body’s response
194
00:11:51,794 --> 00:11:55,464
to the cold could also have
huge health benefits down the line.
195
00:12:00,094 --> 00:12:03,854
As I get older, one quirk
to look forward to is that my built-in
196
00:12:03,931 --> 00:12:05,471
defense system could get trigger happy.
197
00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:09,397
CHRIS:
Throughout the body's blood vessels,
198
00:12:09,478 --> 00:12:14,068
an unwelcome surge of immune cells
can cause collateral damage...
199
00:12:17,611 --> 00:12:19,321
doing more harm than good.
200
00:12:21,282 --> 00:12:24,792
The resulting breakdown in tissues
and organs is called "inflammaging."
201
00:12:26,036 --> 00:12:28,956
And it fuels two of the biggest killers
in the modern world.
202
00:12:33,294 --> 00:12:36,464
But there’s a theory that dialing down
our reactions to the cold...
203
00:12:38,340 --> 00:12:41,930
could also help to reset
that rogue immune system,
204
00:12:43,304 --> 00:12:46,144
and cut the risks
of deadly disease in old age.
205
00:12:50,102 --> 00:12:54,982
So, I’ve gotta subject myself
to regular blasts of icy pain,
206
00:12:55,399 --> 00:12:57,649
and I might not even see the benefits
for years?
207
00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:00,360
Fantastic.
208
00:13:04,658 --> 00:13:06,328
Fortunately,
there is another upside
209
00:13:06,869 --> 00:13:08,539
that can kick in much sooner.
210
00:13:18,214 --> 00:13:21,474
After Johanna Nordblad smashed
her leg in a cycling accident,
211
00:13:21,926 --> 00:13:25,756
her fractures healed,
but the pain never stopped.
212
00:13:28,182 --> 00:13:30,102
It felt like fire in my bones.
213
00:13:31,143 --> 00:13:33,813
I couldn't sleep.
214
00:13:42,613 --> 00:13:45,663
My leg had been in agony for three years.
215
00:13:47,117 --> 00:13:50,287
I was ready to try anything.
216
00:13:58,546 --> 00:14:00,256
Conventional drugs didn’t cut through.
217
00:14:01,298 --> 00:14:03,508
So, doctors prescribed
a radical alternative.
218
00:14:07,721 --> 00:14:12,891
A new treatment, based on the theory
that cold water can scramble pain signals
219
00:14:13,561 --> 00:14:14,851
before they reach the brain.
220
00:14:20,568 --> 00:14:22,568
When I put my leg in the water
221
00:14:22,695 --> 00:14:27,445
for the first time since the accident,
it stopped hurting.
222
00:14:30,619 --> 00:14:35,169
Tears welled in my eyes, and I cried.
223
00:14:40,838 --> 00:14:42,758
Johanna got her life back...
224
00:14:44,216 --> 00:14:45,426
but she didn’t stop there.
225
00:14:56,020 --> 00:14:58,110
She was already a free diver...
226
00:14:59,565 --> 00:15:01,225
but taking on these frozen lakes...
227
00:15:02,067 --> 00:15:04,317
has allowed her
to not only to endure the cold,
228
00:15:05,404 --> 00:15:06,704
but to embrace it.
229
00:15:12,494 --> 00:15:16,084
The treatment
took away my fear of the cold.
230
00:15:22,004 --> 00:15:27,264
If you keep calm,
you can stay in much longer.
231
00:15:32,139 --> 00:15:36,189
This has brought more
than just pain relief.
232
00:15:42,775 --> 00:15:46,815
By swimming in cold water,
you get ill far less often.
233
00:15:49,073 --> 00:15:52,163
I feel healthier and full of energy.
234
00:16:15,724 --> 00:16:16,984
The right dose
of shock
235
00:16:17,101 --> 00:16:19,271
could enhance your ability
to fight off infection.
236
00:16:20,479 --> 00:16:22,729
And you don’t have to be an ice-diver.
237
00:16:25,651 --> 00:16:29,741
In one study, people who flipped to cold
for the last 30 seconds
238
00:16:29,863 --> 00:16:34,793
of their daily shower, ended up
taking almost 30 percent fewer sick days.
239
00:16:35,411 --> 00:16:36,701
That’s pretty impressive.
240
00:16:42,543 --> 00:16:47,303
It's good to be outside your comfort zone.
241
00:16:50,050 --> 00:16:53,470
Open your mind.
242
00:16:54,763 --> 00:16:56,853
Embrace the feeling of the cold.
243
00:17:08,235 --> 00:17:09,985
As more benefits
come to light,
244
00:17:10,070 --> 00:17:13,490
people are finding their own ways
to harness extreme temperatures.
245
00:17:16,243 --> 00:17:18,583
And as we take my training
to the next level,
246
00:17:19,163 --> 00:17:23,043
Ross has come up with the perfect way
to lure me back into the water.
247
00:17:24,293 --> 00:17:26,423
The one thing he knows I can’t resist.
248
00:17:35,554 --> 00:17:36,764
Whoo!
249
00:17:37,264 --> 00:17:41,854
It’s absolutely beautiful,
but your brain’s going,
250
00:17:42,519 --> 00:17:44,519
"What’s going on here?
Why are we heading to the water,
251
00:17:44,646 --> 00:17:46,646
"Why are we trudging through snow?"
252
00:17:47,149 --> 00:17:50,029
-You’re gonna feel alive after this.
253
00:17:53,197 --> 00:17:57,237
Back in Australia, I surf a lot,
but going out in these conditions...
254
00:18:00,162 --> 00:18:01,252
now, that's gnarly.
255
00:18:02,456 --> 00:18:04,706
Luckily, I've got my good buddy here.
256
00:18:05,167 --> 00:18:07,877
Three-time world champion surfer,
Mick Fanning.
257
00:18:08,295 --> 00:18:10,415
Who Ross has roped in to keep me on track.
258
00:18:14,635 --> 00:18:16,295
Coming to a place like this...
259
00:18:17,179 --> 00:18:19,429
it’s such a different experience
than what we’re used to at home.
260
00:18:19,515 --> 00:18:20,515
Yeah.
261
00:18:20,682 --> 00:18:22,352
-It’s so easy at home, you know?
-Yeah.
262
00:18:22,476 --> 00:18:25,516
You have board shorts, it’s warm,
you can park right at the beach.
263
00:18:25,687 --> 00:18:28,567
When here, you gotta think
about your warmth, you gotta think
264
00:18:28,690 --> 00:18:30,400
about getting through the waves and...
265
00:18:31,276 --> 00:18:33,816
With the elements just so raw and real,
266
00:18:34,196 --> 00:18:35,816
you have to zero in in these conditions.
267
00:18:36,448 --> 00:18:37,828
Otherwise, you’ll end up
on the rocks over there,
268
00:18:37,908 --> 00:18:39,828
-somewhere.
-Yeah.
269
00:18:49,128 --> 00:18:52,048
Let's get on with it, shall we?
270
00:18:57,636 --> 00:19:00,596
I want Chris to experience
prolonged exposure.
271
00:19:02,391 --> 00:19:06,271
But in these conditions,
half an hour in his trunks could kill him.
272
00:19:09,731 --> 00:19:11,651
So, this is the wetsuit test.
273
00:19:13,735 --> 00:19:17,025
As he steadily cools down,
he’s gonna experience a significant loss
274
00:19:17,114 --> 00:19:20,584
in muscle strength, and his coordination
is gonna go to pieces.
275
00:19:23,203 --> 00:19:24,753
-I’m keeping warm,
276
00:19:24,872 --> 00:19:26,962
-with Liam and Luke.
-What are they doing?
277
00:19:27,374 --> 00:19:31,004
I wanna see if Chris can hold
it all together and stay mobile.
278
00:19:40,387 --> 00:19:43,137
Let's see how much harder
it is to paddle, eh?
279
00:19:46,977 --> 00:19:48,477
All right, here you go. Here goes Mick.
280
00:20:10,500 --> 00:20:11,590
Wow!
281
00:20:15,214 --> 00:20:17,134
-Little boost on the end. Epic!
-Whoo!
282
00:20:24,598 --> 00:20:27,938
I started surfing
when I was about ten, ten years old.
283
00:20:32,689 --> 00:20:34,519
It's not a bad obsession to have.
284
00:20:38,987 --> 00:20:41,447
But this is like being on another planet.
285
00:20:44,201 --> 00:20:47,451
-A pretty brutal experience.
286
00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:51,290
You, go. You, go! Jump on.
287
00:20:58,465 --> 00:20:59,545
It's Chris.
288
00:21:00,384 --> 00:21:02,554
LUKE:
There you go! Oh, I can't believe it!
289
00:21:04,346 --> 00:21:06,556
Oh! Yes!
290
00:21:09,309 --> 00:21:12,149
-Oh, yes, mate!
291
00:21:12,813 --> 00:21:14,903
-That's an actual turn!
-An actual good wave! Oh!
292
00:21:25,742 --> 00:21:27,542
-Yeah!
-That's huge!
293
00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,085
I’m not easily impressed
by Chris’s surfing...
294
00:21:35,168 --> 00:21:37,958
-Right. Yeah. Yeah.
-...but that was pretty impressive.
295
00:21:46,013 --> 00:21:48,813
To begin with,
you feel like you’re winning.
296
00:21:55,314 --> 00:21:57,614
-You all right?
-It's just so hard to swim.
297
00:21:58,525 --> 00:21:59,895
But eventually...
298
00:22:01,361 --> 00:22:03,201
you start to get so cold.
299
00:22:04,281 --> 00:22:05,701
They're so far out now.
300
00:22:07,034 --> 00:22:08,794
It’s so mental out there.
301
00:22:12,539 --> 00:22:15,039
I can feel it sucking the strength
out of my arms.
302
00:22:18,545 --> 00:22:20,005
It’s harder to maneuver.
303
00:22:21,131 --> 00:22:22,671
My balance is off...
304
00:22:24,009 --> 00:22:25,799
and I'm feeling pretty vulnerable
at this point.
305
00:22:33,977 --> 00:22:37,517
-He’s taking a break.
-Oh, my God.
306
00:22:39,775 --> 00:22:41,145
Oof! Oh!
307
00:22:41,485 --> 00:22:43,945
-I think he's...
-He got poleaxed on that one.
308
00:22:46,531 --> 00:22:47,661
Oh, my God.
309
00:22:48,075 --> 00:22:49,365
It's absolutely freezing.
310
00:22:50,744 --> 00:22:53,294
And at this point, I’ve had enough.
311
00:22:57,167 --> 00:22:59,707
-How was it?
-It was so intense.
312
00:23:00,504 --> 00:23:02,594
-It's like... It's kind of scary.
-Yeah.
313
00:23:03,048 --> 00:23:04,968
The storm kicked back in
and started hailing,
314
00:23:05,258 --> 00:23:06,298
couldn’t even see the waves.
315
00:23:06,468 --> 00:23:08,138
-The hail was hitting me in the eye.
-Yeah.
316
00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:10,310
-It's a completely different, you know...
-And I’ve noticed as well...
317
00:23:10,389 --> 00:23:11,769
-...game, right?
-...the wind chill. Did you feel
318
00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:13,100
-that out there as well?
-For sure.
319
00:23:13,225 --> 00:23:14,345
Yeah.
-Yeah.
320
00:23:14,476 --> 00:23:15,976
-At the end, not catching waves...
-Yeah.
321
00:23:16,061 --> 00:23:17,151
...I started to get a little colder.
322
00:23:17,312 --> 00:23:19,062
And when you get cold,
it just hurts, right?
323
00:23:19,231 --> 00:23:22,441
Yeah. It was... Feels like knives
in your fingers and your toes.
324
00:23:22,651 --> 00:23:24,901
Generally speaking, you’d probably
do everything that you can to avoid
325
00:23:25,028 --> 00:23:26,948
-a surf like that, but...
-Yeah.
326
00:23:27,155 --> 00:23:28,775
...hats off to you, guys.
327
00:23:34,704 --> 00:23:36,254
It was pretty wild out there.
328
00:23:36,957 --> 00:23:41,497
That kind of cold is completely ridiculous
and alien to anything I've ever done.
329
00:23:43,922 --> 00:23:48,222
So, the idea of now going and swimming
without all of that gear and the wet suits
330
00:23:48,343 --> 00:23:49,513
and so on...
331
00:23:51,763 --> 00:23:52,973
has become a really...
332
00:23:54,057 --> 00:23:55,807
intense, scary reality.
333
00:24:00,856 --> 00:24:02,896
ROSS: I think Chris has earned
a break from the cold.
334
00:24:05,986 --> 00:24:09,196
And up here,
there’s another way to boost longevity.
335
00:24:09,823 --> 00:24:11,993
At the other end of the temperature scale.
336
00:24:18,582 --> 00:24:19,582
Whoo!
337
00:24:20,625 --> 00:24:24,585
Ross has hooked me up
with longevity expert, Dr. Peter Attia.
338
00:24:26,214 --> 00:24:27,514
All right.
339
00:24:29,926 --> 00:24:31,006
It's intense.
340
00:24:31,678 --> 00:24:35,928
But Peter's convinced that regular saunas
can boost my long-term health.
341
00:24:36,641 --> 00:24:38,981
DR. PETER: You know,
now that we just got in here, Chris,
342
00:24:39,060 --> 00:24:40,150
let's take your pulse.
343
00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:41,610
All right.
344
00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:46,944
DR. PETER:
Yeah, you're about 64 beats per minute.
345
00:24:47,527 --> 00:24:49,647
But we've got this temperature
cranked up to about
346
00:24:49,779 --> 00:24:51,409
-hundred and ninety-five degrees...
-Yeah.
347
00:24:51,490 --> 00:24:52,530
DR. PETER: ...Fahrenheit.
348
00:24:54,159 --> 00:24:56,199
So, let's see where you are
in a couple of minutes.
349
00:24:56,328 --> 00:24:59,158
I guess I gotta get used to this heat.
350
00:24:59,456 --> 00:25:01,826
Yeah, we're uncomfortable right now
because we're hot.
351
00:25:02,083 --> 00:25:05,423
And in response to that,
our body is trying to cool us off.
352
00:25:05,712 --> 00:25:07,842
-Yeah.
-And so, it's pumping harder
353
00:25:08,089 --> 00:25:11,759
so that your heart can quickly
get the blood to the outside of your body.
354
00:25:11,927 --> 00:25:15,137
And just as exercise is known to help
with cardiovascular disease,
355
00:25:15,514 --> 00:25:18,064
I think sauna
has a number of those benefits as well.
356
00:25:18,808 --> 00:25:21,188
-Like a workout. Yeah.
-Yeah, exactly.
357
00:25:22,437 --> 00:25:24,937
Yeah, you're about 135 right now.
358
00:25:25,357 --> 00:25:27,527
About twice what you were when we started.
359
00:25:27,901 --> 00:25:29,401
-It also...
-It goes back to how beneficial
360
00:25:29,611 --> 00:25:30,741
-stress is, right?
-Yeah. Yeah.
361
00:25:30,820 --> 00:25:32,200
I mean, stressing our bodies in any way
362
00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,780
is... It forces us to adapt
and evolve and change.
363
00:25:34,866 --> 00:25:39,156
Yeah. Well, we just... Our body wants
to stay in a certain temperature range.
364
00:25:39,663 --> 00:25:42,543
And right now, we're pushing ourselves
way outside that comfort zone.
365
00:25:43,124 --> 00:25:46,674
And in the process of adaptation,
our body protects us by increasing
366
00:25:46,795 --> 00:25:50,375
the production of these special molecules
called heat shock proteins,
367
00:25:50,674 --> 00:25:53,474
which are extremely effective
in the fight against disease.
368
00:25:55,387 --> 00:25:57,637
I like to think I look healthy
on the outside.
369
00:25:59,516 --> 00:26:02,596
But on the inside, deep in my cells...
370
00:26:03,770 --> 00:26:07,610
heaps of molecular junk piling up
from the wear and tear of age.
371
00:26:09,025 --> 00:26:12,275
Hoarding all that trash could lead
to serious problems when I'm older.
372
00:26:16,825 --> 00:26:20,825
But the blistering heat of the sauna
tells my body to send in a cleanup crew...
373
00:26:22,455 --> 00:26:23,575
heat shock proteins.
374
00:26:24,833 --> 00:26:28,093
And these tiny heroes
get to work fixing up the junk
375
00:26:28,962 --> 00:26:31,462
to give my cells
the ultimate spring cleaning.
376
00:26:38,430 --> 00:26:41,680
By upping my heart rate and releasing
heat shock proteins,
377
00:26:42,017 --> 00:26:43,887
getting this hot can work wonders.
378
00:26:45,729 --> 00:26:49,399
The two places where sauna
is having the most benefit
379
00:26:49,774 --> 00:26:54,324
is in cardiovascular disease,
where it is about a 50 percent reduction
380
00:26:54,404 --> 00:26:57,954
in risk of death, and Alzheimer's disease,
where it's about
381
00:26:58,033 --> 00:27:01,043
-a 65, 66 percent reduction.
-Wow.
382
00:27:01,745 --> 00:27:06,205
DR. PETER: Yeah, this exceeds that
of virtually any drug that we can imagine.
383
00:27:06,666 --> 00:27:07,786
Incredible.
384
00:27:10,670 --> 00:27:12,840
That's from simply taking
frequent saunas,
385
00:27:13,465 --> 00:27:16,375
fired up to around 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
386
00:27:18,303 --> 00:27:20,393
Now, that's the kind of prescription
I can handle.
387
00:27:22,265 --> 00:27:23,345
But right now...
388
00:27:25,226 --> 00:27:27,186
I've got some unfinished business
with the cold.
389
00:27:43,912 --> 00:27:46,122
Yes, boys, how we feeling?
390
00:27:46,414 --> 00:27:47,964
-Wow, mate.
-That's what I'm saying, mate.
391
00:27:48,041 --> 00:27:49,211
-Yeah, Rossy!
392
00:27:49,376 --> 00:27:52,626
With the swim looming,
there’s no let-up in the training.
393
00:27:52,879 --> 00:27:55,129
-Are you plotting something?
-I just think...
394
00:27:55,256 --> 00:27:56,796
I’m gonna be completely honest,
now we’re out here.
395
00:27:56,883 --> 00:27:59,513
I just... I don’t think there’s such
a thing as too much acclimatization.
396
00:27:59,678 --> 00:28:02,928
I just think we need to get you as cold
as possible, as often as possible.
397
00:28:05,767 --> 00:28:07,557
Let’s go, let's go, let's go!
398
00:28:07,769 --> 00:28:10,399
-All right. All right.
399
00:28:13,233 --> 00:28:16,903
CHRIS: All my brothers and my friends
have done so far is laugh at me.
400
00:28:17,362 --> 00:28:19,492
So, this is payback time.
401
00:28:19,781 --> 00:28:22,581
-Let's do it!
402
00:28:32,252 --> 00:28:35,632
Ross says that each blast
of the cold will help tame my reactions.
403
00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:41,220
And here’s another kind of Arctic torture.
404
00:28:41,302 --> 00:28:42,602
-We're going.
-Let's go.
405
00:28:42,804 --> 00:28:45,814
We're going.
406
00:28:45,932 --> 00:28:48,692
My brothers and I,
we love a bit of pointless competition.
407
00:28:50,562 --> 00:28:52,362
So, we’re going all in.
408
00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,570
-All right, let's go, fellas.
-Let's do it.
409
00:28:56,484 --> 00:28:59,284
Go, get him. Where's he going with it?
410
00:29:01,698 --> 00:29:04,028
I’ve got to keep using my muscles
in the cold...
411
00:29:07,954 --> 00:29:09,624
...and maintain that coordination.
412
00:29:10,498 --> 00:29:11,918
Oh!
413
00:29:12,041 --> 00:29:13,541
Or try to, anyway.
414
00:29:16,629 --> 00:29:19,839
And according to Ross,
repeating these doses...
415
00:29:21,301 --> 00:29:24,141
should eventually break
the body’s resistance to the cold.
416
00:29:36,566 --> 00:29:38,226
-Oh, boy.
-How do we feel, boys?
417
00:29:38,651 --> 00:29:40,821
-I feel...
418
00:29:41,237 --> 00:29:43,157
-I feel actually...
-I felt like I was gonna vomit.
419
00:29:43,281 --> 00:29:45,201
-For me, it’s like absolute agony.
-Yeah. Yeah.
420
00:29:45,408 --> 00:29:48,408
Does training for this actually
make any difference?
421
00:29:49,037 --> 00:29:52,327
Well, it's... I don't know
if it's any less uncomfortable
422
00:29:52,457 --> 00:29:55,247
or you're just more familiar
with being uncomfortable,
423
00:29:55,543 --> 00:29:57,173
and I feel like definitely having done it
424
00:29:57,253 --> 00:29:59,173
-a few times, you're like, "Okay..."
-Yeah.
425
00:29:59,339 --> 00:30:01,009
-"...this is what it is." But...
-Yeah.
426
00:30:01,216 --> 00:30:03,796
...I don't know that
there's a massive change in my body
427
00:30:03,885 --> 00:30:05,385
because it's still
pretty uncomfortable, but...
428
00:30:05,553 --> 00:30:07,013
-Yeah.
-Still pretty incredible.
429
00:30:07,180 --> 00:30:08,180
-Yeah.
-It's... Thanks.
430
00:30:10,266 --> 00:30:13,556
Yeah, I think doing things that hurt,
there's a benefit, right?
431
00:30:13,686 --> 00:30:15,306
There's doing things that test you,
doing things that...
432
00:30:15,396 --> 00:30:16,476
-Yeah.
-...are hard.
433
00:30:16,564 --> 00:30:19,534
You know? Really pushing beyond
the boundaries of what you think
434
00:30:19,609 --> 00:30:21,649
-is possible. And that really is...
-Yeah. And also a mental thing
435
00:30:21,778 --> 00:30:24,528
when you have to reeducate your mind,
you have to change your mind to be like,
436
00:30:24,614 --> 00:30:27,664
"No. I just need to find a way
to get through it."
437
00:30:27,742 --> 00:30:28,952
Yeah.
438
00:30:29,077 --> 00:30:32,657
You know, keep moving
and don't sort of let things fall apart.
439
00:30:32,789 --> 00:30:38,289
Yeah. You wanna get every opportunity
possible to live a longer,
440
00:30:38,461 --> 00:30:39,841
-healthier, happier life. And...
-Yeah.
441
00:30:40,046 --> 00:30:45,966
And also not just living longer,
but living longer and strong.
442
00:30:46,219 --> 00:30:48,639
Especially having kids, you wanna
be able to play with the grandchildren
443
00:30:49,138 --> 00:30:51,348
-and still be active and...
-Yeah.
444
00:30:51,474 --> 00:30:54,524
...and run down in the snow,
and jump in the ocean. You know?
445
00:30:54,602 --> 00:30:56,902
-The emotional strength that comes...
-Yeah, there's a real sense of achievement
446
00:30:56,980 --> 00:30:58,190
-from doing that too.
-Yeah.
447
00:30:58,273 --> 00:31:02,193
Just the reward from actually run through
the snow and diving into this...
448
00:31:02,277 --> 00:31:03,647
-Yeah.
-...you know, three degrees water...
449
00:31:03,736 --> 00:31:05,606
-I think it also... It's... Yeah.
-...and running back again.
450
00:31:05,738 --> 00:31:07,948
And I do think there's something
to what Ross is saying about just...
451
00:31:08,116 --> 00:31:11,576
We've just become
far too comfortable in everything...
452
00:31:11,661 --> 00:31:12,831
-Yeah.
-...the temperature of our house,
453
00:31:12,912 --> 00:31:14,372
-our clothing. We're not used to...
-Yeah.
454
00:31:14,497 --> 00:31:17,747
...any discomfort.
And that initial handbrake is really
455
00:31:17,834 --> 00:31:20,754
an emotional response
of your body trying to preserve itself.
456
00:31:21,045 --> 00:31:24,505
You know, whereas actually the body
has a whole lot more in the tank...
457
00:31:24,591 --> 00:31:26,681
-Yeah. Yeah.
-...and you just gotta get past that.
458
00:31:29,762 --> 00:31:32,562
I guess it’s easy to talk
about embracing the cold
459
00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:33,850
when you’re sitting in a hot tub.
460
00:31:37,937 --> 00:31:41,397
In reality, this swim is gonna take
it to another level.
461
00:31:43,985 --> 00:31:47,405
And if I’m honest,
it’s a pretty daunting prospect.
462
00:31:57,290 --> 00:32:01,790
But for one community in Japan,
the fact that the cold is daunting
463
00:32:02,170 --> 00:32:06,590
is the whole point and leads to benefits
that go beyond the physical.
464
00:32:13,014 --> 00:32:14,394
MR. SHINBO:
Entering the mountains
465
00:32:14,766 --> 00:32:20,306
you can test your capacity
for all kinds of suffering.
466
00:32:30,698 --> 00:32:33,448
Becoming
a Shugendo monk takes years of training.
467
00:32:35,244 --> 00:32:37,254
For some, it's a fresh start.
468
00:32:38,748 --> 00:32:42,588
Like Mr. Shinbo, who joined the order
after the death of his wife.
469
00:32:43,878 --> 00:32:48,628
I couldn’t see the point in life anymore.
470
00:32:52,011 --> 00:32:54,391
I was in great distress.
471
00:32:55,473 --> 00:32:59,603
Then I encountered the Shugendo.
472
00:33:15,326 --> 00:33:17,036
Today,
for the very first time,
473
00:33:17,620 --> 00:33:20,460
Mr. Shinbo faces a truly terrifying test.
474
00:33:29,507 --> 00:33:30,717
The waterfall.
475
00:33:32,301 --> 00:33:36,351
Fresh from the snowfields
upstream, this torrent of meltwater
476
00:33:36,597 --> 00:33:39,057
is so cold it can cause heart failure.
477
00:33:54,657 --> 00:33:58,117
To pass, he needs to withstand
this freezing cascade...
478
00:33:59,954 --> 00:34:02,374
-until his master is satisfied.
479
00:34:17,972 --> 00:34:21,182
MR. SHINBO:
The effect of the cold water...
480
00:34:22,393 --> 00:34:25,483
is like an electric shock.
481
00:34:40,203 --> 00:34:46,423
MR. SHINBO: Putting yourself in a place
where you feel fear.
482
00:34:46,834 --> 00:34:49,134
That’s the test.
483
00:34:55,885 --> 00:34:59,845
MR. SHINBO:
There’s a story about baby eels.
484
00:35:02,141 --> 00:35:06,311
If you add a predator
like a catfish to the tank...
485
00:35:07,230 --> 00:35:10,400
they say more
of the young eels will survive.
486
00:35:17,782 --> 00:35:21,872
MR. SHINBO: Humans also excel
in the face of adversity.
487
00:35:24,413 --> 00:35:27,083
That’s what we’re trying to achieve.
488
00:35:50,940 --> 00:35:55,320
MR. SHINBO:
I have experienced huge trauma,
489
00:35:55,653 --> 00:35:58,823
but through these tests,
I’ve come to terms with the past.
490
00:36:02,827 --> 00:36:05,907
If I met my younger self, I’d say,
491
00:36:06,164 --> 00:36:08,174
"It’s going to be all right."
492
00:36:08,332 --> 00:36:10,962
Even if you endure suffering,
493
00:36:11,085 --> 00:36:12,995
you’re going to be all right.
494
00:36:16,716 --> 00:36:18,506
I know
extreme temperatures could help
495
00:36:18,593 --> 00:36:20,053
combat physical decline.
496
00:36:21,679 --> 00:36:25,429
But during a long life, there are bound
to be mental challenges too.
497
00:36:27,476 --> 00:36:30,436
The Shugendo rituals show
that confronting fear
498
00:36:30,855 --> 00:36:34,435
and enduring the cold can build
a stronger mindset.
499
00:36:37,737 --> 00:36:40,277
To do it with such focus and such grace...
500
00:36:42,116 --> 00:36:43,486
that’s truly inspiring.
501
00:36:58,591 --> 00:37:01,931
-What happens if you don’t make it?
-You’re gonna be there to fish me out!
502
00:37:02,053 --> 00:37:04,513
-Although, I’m not getting in.
503
00:37:05,181 --> 00:37:07,101
You know, it’s snowing
right now, too?
504
00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:08,426
It is snowing, yeah.
505
00:37:08,935 --> 00:37:11,185
-Oh, good luck with that.
-Thanks.
506
00:37:11,687 --> 00:37:13,017
-Exhilarating.
-Yeah. Hmm.
507
00:37:15,483 --> 00:37:16,573
Yeah, I think I’ve lost my mind.
508
00:37:16,651 --> 00:37:18,071
-Yeah.
509
00:37:21,864 --> 00:37:23,874
My challenge is to reach that buoy.
510
00:37:25,243 --> 00:37:29,503
Two-hundred and fifty yards in water close
to freezing.
511
00:37:33,584 --> 00:37:35,214
But I know why I’m here.
512
00:37:35,962 --> 00:37:39,882
Enduring extreme conditions could help me
fight inflammaging,
513
00:37:40,299 --> 00:37:43,509
manage pain and boost my immune system.
514
00:37:45,346 --> 00:37:49,726
It can trigger repairs inside my cells,
and even improve my mental wellbeing.
515
00:37:53,396 --> 00:37:55,396
So, it’s time to step up,
516
00:37:56,023 --> 00:37:57,823
and just get this thing done.
517
00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:11,960
-ROSS: Here we are.
518
00:38:13,416 --> 00:38:18,546
And I have got to admit, I'm nervous,
because despite all the training,
519
00:38:19,046 --> 00:38:20,716
this is now uncharted territory...
520
00:38:21,549 --> 00:38:23,259
and so much could go wrong.
521
00:38:24,343 --> 00:38:26,553
-Hey, boys. How are ya?
-Hi, Andy, safety team doctor.
522
00:38:26,637 --> 00:38:28,467
-I see, yeah. Hey, mate.
-How you doing? I'm Tom.
523
00:38:28,556 --> 00:38:30,676
-Hi, Ross. How are you?
-Andy, how are we, mate, we good?
524
00:38:30,766 --> 00:38:32,136
-You good?
-Hey, mate, you all right?
525
00:38:32,727 --> 00:38:33,767
Oh, yeah!
526
00:38:34,895 --> 00:38:37,935
So, when you’re swimming, you’re gonna
have a tow-float tied to you.
527
00:38:38,107 --> 00:38:40,437
And so, any issues, you can obviously
just grab that and hold that.
528
00:38:40,901 --> 00:38:42,361
Do we have to have that or to... What?
529
00:38:42,570 --> 00:38:44,660
Yeah, I mean... And especially
on ice swimming as well.
530
00:38:44,780 --> 00:38:47,200
It just means if something goes
completely wrong and you go under,
531
00:38:47,325 --> 00:38:48,655
-you’re still attached to it...
-Yeah.
532
00:38:48,743 --> 00:38:50,543
...so we can then find you,
we grab the float.
533
00:38:50,619 --> 00:38:53,289
Obviously, it’ll be a lot harder
than anything you’ve done so far
534
00:38:53,456 --> 00:38:57,586
and your muscles are gonna get very stiff,
cold, and you'll become uncoordinated.
535
00:38:58,210 --> 00:39:00,840
And when you get out of the water,
we don’t want you to warm up too fast,
536
00:39:01,005 --> 00:39:04,375
because your limbs are gonna have lots
of cold blood in,
537
00:39:04,633 --> 00:39:07,303
and if that all disappears back
to your heart quickly,
538
00:39:07,386 --> 00:39:08,926
that can cause significant problems.
539
00:39:09,347 --> 00:39:11,057
So, we need to warm you up slowly
and gradually.
540
00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:15,100
Please make no mistakes.
It's a brutal swim.
541
00:39:15,353 --> 00:39:17,943
You’re gonna be gasping for air
into a headwind.
542
00:39:18,064 --> 00:39:20,234
It’s literally coming straight down
the barrel.
543
00:39:20,358 --> 00:39:22,028
-Hmm.
-So, you’re gonna be pushing off there,
544
00:39:22,151 --> 00:39:23,531
gasp reflex, going,
545
00:39:23,778 --> 00:39:27,318
"Oh, good God, what’s going on?"
So, if all of a sudden if I say,
546
00:39:27,490 --> 00:39:31,410
"Now, you’re coming out." Believe us.
It'll be for your own safety.
547
00:39:32,870 --> 00:39:36,710
If you overegg this, if you push yourself
beyond the point
548
00:39:36,791 --> 00:39:39,751
at which you should be coming out,
there is a real risk you could die.
549
00:39:42,088 --> 00:39:43,208
Yep.
550
00:40:04,610 --> 00:40:07,490
-From here. Yeah.
-Here? Right.
551
00:40:08,364 --> 00:40:10,284
That's where we switch it on now,
okay?
552
00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:15,660
I mean, even having
all these things in place
553
00:40:15,746 --> 00:40:17,116
and having the people around.
554
00:40:17,706 --> 00:40:18,706
I'm really nervous.
555
00:40:27,425 --> 00:40:29,135
There is a whole lot of weather
coming
556
00:40:29,385 --> 00:40:31,295
and, you know, it’s quite choppy
and windy.
557
00:40:35,850 --> 00:40:37,310
It's absolutely freezing cold.
558
00:40:40,271 --> 00:40:42,191
You know, the reality
is really kicking in.
559
00:40:43,441 --> 00:40:45,651
Two minutes. Two minutes!
560
00:40:48,571 --> 00:40:51,571
I just want controlled
and calm aggression.
561
00:40:51,740 --> 00:40:54,910
So, when you go in, you’re just
so confident in every single one
562
00:40:54,994 --> 00:40:57,874
of your strokes.
Overcoming that gasp reflex.
563
00:40:58,038 --> 00:41:01,498
There you go, there you go.
There you go, there you go, there you go.
564
00:41:01,625 --> 00:41:03,245
Let’s go. Come on!
565
00:41:06,380 --> 00:41:08,720
-Yeah, mate.
-Yes, Chris.
566
00:41:08,841 --> 00:41:10,551
The weather is getting worse
by the second.
567
00:41:10,634 --> 00:41:11,724
Yeah.
568
00:41:12,803 --> 00:41:14,643
Yeah. That wind just picked up
another ten knots.
569
00:41:14,847 --> 00:41:17,017
-Yes! It's getting wild.
-It literally is.
570
00:41:18,517 --> 00:41:20,637
My brothers are there.
They’re cheering me on.
571
00:41:21,479 --> 00:41:23,979
So, I kinda got to do it.
572
00:41:25,649 --> 00:41:27,529
Getting quite nervous now actually.
573
00:41:27,693 --> 00:41:30,493
-Heart rate's definitely coming up.
-Suspense... is terrifying.
574
00:41:35,409 --> 00:41:37,539
CHRIS: But the biggest motivation
of all...
575
00:41:38,662 --> 00:41:40,752
is that this isn’t a battle
against the cold...
576
00:41:42,875 --> 00:41:45,785
it’s a chance to fight back against death
and disease.
577
00:41:48,756 --> 00:41:51,626
A battle against what time can do to me.
578
00:41:53,469 --> 00:41:56,259
Focus on your breathing
and your physiology will follow!
579
00:42:15,407 --> 00:42:16,487
Here he goes!
580
00:42:19,578 --> 00:42:22,668
That instant shock
is just so intense.
581
00:42:23,666 --> 00:42:26,666
It’s far colder than anything
that’s gone before.
582
00:42:27,253 --> 00:42:30,633
All I’m thinking is, "Get this over with
as quickly as possible."
583
00:42:31,632 --> 00:42:33,012
And I just take off.
584
00:42:40,140 --> 00:42:41,810
-Almost there, mate!
-Go on, Christo!
585
00:42:41,934 --> 00:42:43,024
Come on, mate!
586
00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:46,360
He’s doing really well.
He’s keeping a good pace.
587
00:42:46,438 --> 00:42:47,818
-Yeah.
-Ah, he’s killing it.
588
00:42:50,442 --> 00:42:52,112
But after ten strokes,
589
00:42:52,695 --> 00:42:56,615
it burns, it hurts. My head's thumping.
590
00:42:57,449 --> 00:43:00,909
My body is screaming, "This is crazy.
What are you doing?"
591
00:43:02,121 --> 00:43:04,961
Good, Chris. Let's go! Let's go! Breathe!
592
00:43:05,874 --> 00:43:08,044
Come on! One arm after the other.
Just focus on that.
593
00:43:08,127 --> 00:43:09,667
One arm after the other.
594
00:43:12,214 --> 00:43:15,974
And then the worst
ice cream headache starts kicking in,
595
00:43:16,677 --> 00:43:18,217
and I’m starting to really feel the cold.
596
00:43:18,429 --> 00:43:20,639
-He’s slowing down.
-Oh, no!
597
00:43:20,848 --> 00:43:22,848
Oh, come on, keep going.
598
00:43:26,186 --> 00:43:30,146
CHRIS: Then all of a sudden, my arms
and legs feel like lead balloons.
599
00:43:31,025 --> 00:43:35,605
I’m completely off in my balance.
And I just feel paralyzed.
600
00:43:36,864 --> 00:43:39,784
Chris, come on! Stay with me. Focus!
601
00:43:40,993 --> 00:43:44,463
There's sort of two voices
that were very intense and loud.
602
00:43:46,123 --> 00:43:48,293
One was just saying to me,
"You’re gonna die."
603
00:43:51,378 --> 00:43:52,758
-Let’s go, mate!
-Come on.
604
00:43:55,090 --> 00:43:57,340
But the other voice is saying...
605
00:43:58,344 --> 00:44:00,684
-"No way!"
-Come on, Chris. Go!
606
00:44:04,308 --> 00:44:07,018
And all of a sudden, you discover
different parts of yourself.
607
00:44:11,732 --> 00:44:14,572
CHRIS: So, I block everything else out
and I'm telling myself...
608
00:44:15,903 --> 00:44:17,283
"Just get out of here."
609
00:44:24,745 --> 00:44:28,365
Nice, nice! Let's go, big man. Let's go!
610
00:44:33,045 --> 00:44:35,875
-Go! Go! Head down!
-Yeah, mate! Head down!
611
00:44:36,090 --> 00:44:37,720
-Oh, that's the spirit!
612
00:44:38,550 --> 00:44:41,390
Mind over matter. Mind over matter.
Turn it into a fight.
613
00:44:44,556 --> 00:44:49,096
Last ten. Last ten! Finish this. Finish!
614
00:44:53,399 --> 00:44:56,069
-Yes! Yes!
615
00:44:56,193 --> 00:44:57,443
-Yes, big guy!
616
00:45:00,197 --> 00:45:04,117
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! You are an animal.
617
00:45:05,119 --> 00:45:07,789
-Yes, Christo!
-Yeah, boy!
618
00:45:08,580 --> 00:45:11,420
-Yeah, yeah. Up you come, mate. Well done.
619
00:45:13,794 --> 00:45:16,214
Get here, get here, get here, get here,
get here, get here, get here, get here.
620
00:45:17,339 --> 00:45:19,009
Wrap it round so we can--
Turn around, turn around.
621
00:45:19,091 --> 00:45:21,051
-Oh, I'm so dizzy.
-Get in, get in.
622
00:45:24,596 --> 00:45:26,766
Yeah, we got gloves?
Have we got some gloves?
623
00:45:28,726 --> 00:45:30,686
Get down, get down. Come on.
Sit there, sit there.
624
00:45:31,353 --> 00:45:32,813
-Sit there, sit there, sit there,
625
00:45:32,896 --> 00:45:34,016
sit there, sit there, sit there.
626
00:45:34,273 --> 00:45:38,573
I’ve never felt like that before,
physically and emotionally so challenging
627
00:45:38,694 --> 00:45:41,704
in such a short, concentrated period
of time.
628
00:45:43,574 --> 00:45:46,374
-Yes! Yes!
629
00:45:46,660 --> 00:45:49,500
And it’s an experience that will stay
with me forever.
630
00:45:49,997 --> 00:45:51,957
You did absolutely everything
that I told you to do.
631
00:45:52,040 --> 00:45:53,500
You did it, and then some.
632
00:45:56,128 --> 00:45:58,798
CHRIS: And it did make me think
how comfortable
633
00:45:58,881 --> 00:46:00,421
we’ve all become, in this day and age,
634
00:46:00,507 --> 00:46:03,177
and that we’re far more capable
of doing things
635
00:46:03,302 --> 00:46:04,802
that we think are impossible.
636
00:46:05,554 --> 00:46:08,354
Chris, the cameras weren’t rolling.
We need one more take, mate.
637
00:46:08,474 --> 00:46:10,774
-I am never doing that again!
638
00:46:10,934 --> 00:46:13,194
-We forgot to load the film.
639
00:46:15,939 --> 00:46:19,819
You know, we have an opportunity
to live longer, better.
640
00:46:20,152 --> 00:46:21,202
Group hug, group hug!
641
00:46:21,862 --> 00:46:23,362
-Yeah!
-You made it!
642
00:46:24,573 --> 00:46:26,873
Challenging my body
with extreme temperatures...
643
00:46:28,285 --> 00:46:29,495
could help me get there.
644
00:46:30,370 --> 00:46:31,660
-They’re gonna defrost me now.
-Yeah.
645
00:46:31,789 --> 00:46:32,829
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
646
00:46:33,081 --> 00:46:34,631
CHRIS: I know my body can cope with it,
647
00:46:35,292 --> 00:46:39,212
and I am confident it's working
its magic deep within my cells.
648
00:46:39,963 --> 00:46:41,133
We'll see you in the Caribbean.
649
00:46:41,215 --> 00:46:43,585
-I’m wintered. I’m wintered. I'm adapted.
-Fully wintered.
650
00:46:43,759 --> 00:46:46,049
-You're fully wintered. Yes!
651
00:46:46,220 --> 00:46:47,760
-What a time.
-Good job, mate.
652
00:46:47,930 --> 00:46:49,720
-What a time to be alive.
-Yeah, boy.
653
00:46:51,058 --> 00:46:53,018
And the cold never bothered me anyway.
654
00:47:08,242 --> 00:47:10,292
Oh, my God. There you go.