whale

Humpback whales were hardest hit, accounting for 77 of the cases.

The crew also find comfort in the wonders of the ocean - dolphins and flying fish, and one night an encounter with a pod of friendly minke whales, swimming in bio-luminescent water.

A minke whale in Long Beach Harbor and a gray whale stranded on Huntington City Beach also succumbed to the outbreak.

The athlete began the swim in Reyjavik on 17 May, expecting to face choppy waters, killer whales and temperatures as low as 3C.

While looking forward to fresh food and a comfy bed, Lachlan said he would miss nights under star-filled skies and close encounters with whales, dolphins and sea birds.