Levin connection to Kiwi freediving world record under ice in Norway

Ant Williams and team mate ready to start their freedive attempt below the arctic ice in Norway.

Former Levin resident and Horowhenua College old boy Jonathan Garratt made the world news the other day when his mate and fellow Kiwi Ant Williams broke the world record for freediving below ice in the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Ant Williams reached 75m after at an earlier attempt reaching 70m in pitch black ice cold water. The previous official record was 65, set by a Russian freediver. In his support team is Jonathan Garratt, his safety manager.

Jonathan's proud dad Bruce brought the Chronicle videos and photos to share the news. He said all his kids were outdoor types.

"Jonathan was a surfie who made friends with Ant and a few other freedivers and took up the sport a few years ago. He travels with them around the world enjoying the sport."

Jonathan now works in Australia as a civil engineer who specialises in hydraulics. He has done geotech work, and now works on tunnels for Railcorp in Sydney.