Slovenian who swam Amazon river leaves Brazilian hospital

Slovenian distance swimmer Martin Strel was released from the hospital Monday and was recovering from health problems brought on by his 65-day, 5,265-kilometer (3,272-mile) swim down the Amazon River, his son said.

Photo: Slovenian who swam Amazon river leaves Brazilian hospital

Strel was hospitalized with high blood pressure and dizziness on Sunday immediately after completing the swim near the city of Belem, 2,400 kilometers (1,490 miles) north of Sao Paulo.

"He still hasn't completely recovered, of course. That's going to take some time," said Martin's son and project coordinator, Borut Strel. "But he is better now."

Martin Strel, 52, canceled an appearance at a news conference Sunday because of illness. He reportedly lost about 12 kilograms (26 pounds) in the swim.

Averaging about 80 kilometers (50 miles) a day since setting off from the river's source in Peru on Feb. 1, Martin Strel contended with exhaustion and delirium as well as the piranhas, alligators and bloodsucking toothpick fish that inhabit the world's second-longest river.

If confirmed by Guinness World Records, it will be the fourth time he has broken a distance swimming record.

In 2000, Strel swam the length of Europe's 3,004-kilometer (1,866-mile) Danube River. He broke his own record two years later when he swam 3,797 kilometers (2,360 miles) down the United States' Mississippi, and in 2004 he swam 4,003 kilometers (2,487 miles) along China's Yangtze.