Aussie Woman Ends Cuba To Keys Swim Attempt

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An Australian woman abruptly ended her attempt to swim from Havana To the Florida Keys Wednesday night.

Endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel got out of the water 11 hours after getting in  "due to a severe debilitating jellyfish sting," according to a statement released by her support team.

The statement said she had been taken on to one of her support vessels and was sailing to Key West. She would need 24 hours to recuperate, it said.

McCardel was trying to set a record and be the first woman to cross the Florida Straits without a shark cage. McCardel was aware of the swift currents and jellyfish along the 100 mile journey.

McCardel left Havana around 10 a.m.

McCardel said that throughout the swim, she would not touch or board the support boat that will be traveling with her nor will she touch another person during the attempt.

The Australian Champion of the English Channel attempted the swim without using a full-length swim suit, wetsuit, flotation device, flippers, snorkel or other "outside" help.

McCardel's swim was an attempt to raise money for breast cancer research. He mother is a breast cancer survivor.

She's the latest swimmer to try the difficult crossing.

American Diana Nyad has tried four times: once in 1978 with a shark cage, and three times in the last two years without it. After jellyfish thwarted her most recent attempt, in August, Nyad all but ruled out a fifth try.

Strong currents forced Australian Penny Palfrey to abandon her attempt last July.

One Australian has successfully finished the swim. Susie Maroney did it in 1997 with a shark cage.

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