A Slovenian man has become the first person to swim the entire length of South America’s Amazon River.

Martin Strel, 52, completed the 5,265-kilometre swim from Peru to Brazil in 66 days.

After more than two months withstanding the best the Amazon could throw at him, the man they call ‘Fish Man’ defied doctor’s orders by completing his latest marathon swim today.

He arrived in the northern Brazilian city of Belem suffering from dizziness, nausea, diarrhoea and sunstroke.

He averaged nearly 85 kilometres each day and was sometimes in such pain he had to be helped from the water.

The Amazon is home to animals including piranhas, crocodiles and anacondas but Mr Strel says they had “just accepted him”.

He already holds world records for swimming the Danube, Yangtze and Mississippi Rivers and Guinness World Records is expected to verify his latest feat within weeks.

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