The overall title of greatest number of successful English Channel swims is held by Chloë McCardel with 44 to her name.
[2] In 1964, aged just 15, he completed his first long distance swim – 6 hours 29 minutes for the 10 miles (16 km) of Windermere.
This decision by the boat crew wouldn't have been taken lightly, given his famed stamina and ability to withstand the coldest and harshest water conditions, as typified in 1988, when he won the Loch Lomond Scottish ASA Centenary Championship.
[5] He lost this title temporarily, due in part to pursuing several swims overseas and then from being forced to succumb to major shoulder surgery to remove bone spurs, an affliction caused by 40 years of relentless marathon swimming and training.
However, on 29 August 2005, and just 18 months after having surgery, Murphy completed his 33rd crossing in 13 hours 31 mins to become joint holder of the King of the Channel title.