Swimmer completes seven-mile open-water crossing of Frederick Sound

After just barely falling short of his goal last year, Andrew Simmonds managed to complete a seven-mile swim across Frederick Sound on July 15.

Simmonds-a physical therapist at the Petersburg Medical Center-started his crossing at Petersburg's Sandy Beach at 7:01 a.m.

His first steps into the water marked the beginning of what would become a seven-hour long battle that pushed him to his limits.

However, the challenge truly began for Simmonds when he arrived in Petersburg back in October 2021 and visited Sandy Beach for the first time.

"Like a magnet, it drew me down there. The big mountains ac...