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The Desert Swimmer: From severe depression on an outback sheep station to swimming the English Channel
The inspirational true story of an Aussie bloke from the outback, crippled with depression, who challenges himself to swim the English Channel as a way of managing his mental health struggles.
Brendan Cullen manages Kars Station, a 10,000-head sheep property 65 kilometres outside Broken Hill, New South Wales. In 2022, despite his nearest beach being more than 600 kilometres away, he swam the English Channel.
Taking up swimming was part of Brendan's recovery from severe depression. The illness had seen him cope in highly unhealthy ways—drinking, overwork, being emotionally absent—for years until he found the strength to walk through the doors of Broken Hill Hospital and ask for help.
Then, in 2015, Brendan watched his brother compete in an open-water swim, and a year later he was doing the same. Despite it being exhausting and challenging, it made him feel vitally alive. In 2018 he happened to see an advertisement encouraging swimmers to take on the English Channel. An idea was sparked.
Through Covid-19 restrictions, he trained for hours before dawn in the murky Menindee Lake system, and in icy local waters, determined to take on one of the world's most extreme ocean swims. And he did, completing the Channel crossing in 17 hours, after strong currents dragged him off course and extended his journey to 64 kilometres—almost double the most direct route.
The Desert Swimmer shows the good that comes from facing challenges head-on.
'Brendan's become a beacon of hope, inspiration and support well beyond Broken Hill.' Sabra Lane
Brendan Cullen manages Kars Station, a 10,000-head sheep property 65 kilometres outside Broken Hill, New South Wales. In 2022, despite his nearest beach being more than 600 kilometres away, he swam the English Channel.
Taking up swimming was part of Brendan's recovery from severe depression. The illness had seen him cope in highly unhealthy ways—drinking, overwork, being emotionally absent—for years until he found the strength to walk through the doors of Broken Hill Hospital and ask for help.
Then, in 2015, Brendan watched his brother compete in an open-water swim, and a year later he was doing the same. Despite it being exhausting and challenging, it made him feel vitally alive. In 2018 he happened to see an advertisement encouraging swimmers to take on the English Channel. An idea was sparked.
Through Covid-19 restrictions, he trained for hours before dawn in the murky Menindee Lake system, and in icy local waters, determined to take on one of the world's most extreme ocean swims. And he did, completing the Channel crossing in 17 hours, after strong currents dragged him off course and extended his journey to 64 kilometres—almost double the most direct route.
The Desert Swimmer shows the good that comes from facing challenges head-on.
'Brendan's become a beacon of hope, inspiration and support well beyond Broken Hill.' Sabra Lane
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 24, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Salt Of The Earth Storytelling, Inspiring
full review ⬇️
You give me a book about life on the land and chasing big dreams… and I’m calling it a 5 star read every time!
The Desert Swimmer is Brendan Cullen’s real life story of going from the lowest of lows working a grueling station life leading to a diagnosis of depression to achieving one of the highest life achievements in swimming the English Channel.
I listened to this on audio and thought Shane the narrator did a brilliant job capturing the true character and story.
Brendan spoke about life on the land and this resonated hard with me. From the realities of drought, isolation and the constant juggle of work, family and everything in between, he shared how this led to his diagnosis of depression. Chapter 12 in particular really hit home, especially around that work/life balance and the pressures that come with farm life.
But Brendan took this experience and challenged himself to swim the English Channel, and raise money for the incredible Lifeline along the way and I enjoyed the alternating chapters between life on the land and the arduous swim to really show the rollercoaster journey his life has taken him on.
It was inspiring to see Brendan now using his lived experience to support others through Lifeline and Royal Flying Doctor Service volunteer work and this purpose around connection, resilience and showing up for people when it matters most.
If you love stories about rural life, overcoming challenges, meaningful community work and people chasing something bigger than themselves, this is such a rewarding read.
Vibe check: Salt Of The Earth Storytelling, Inspiring
full review ⬇️
You give me a book about life on the land and chasing big dreams… and I’m calling it a 5 star read every time!
The Desert Swimmer is Brendan Cullen’s real life story of going from the lowest of lows working a grueling station life leading to a diagnosis of depression to achieving one of the highest life achievements in swimming the English Channel.
I listened to this on audio and thought Shane the narrator did a brilliant job capturing the true character and story.
Brendan spoke about life on the land and this resonated hard with me. From the realities of drought, isolation and the constant juggle of work, family and everything in between, he shared how this led to his diagnosis of depression. Chapter 12 in particular really hit home, especially around that work/life balance and the pressures that come with farm life.
But Brendan took this experience and challenged himself to swim the English Channel, and raise money for the incredible Lifeline along the way and I enjoyed the alternating chapters between life on the land and the arduous swim to really show the rollercoaster journey his life has taken him on.
It was inspiring to see Brendan now using his lived experience to support others through Lifeline and Royal Flying Doctor Service volunteer work and this purpose around connection, resilience and showing up for people when it matters most.
If you love stories about rural life, overcoming challenges, meaningful community work and people chasing something bigger than themselves, this is such a rewarding read.
March 23, 2026
I loved this book! As a swimmer, I can relate (although the Channel is definitely NOT on my agenda!). But, as a city girl born and bred, Brendan brought the true reality of life on the land, along with its inherent challenges, into the forefront of my consciousness. What a tough existence! It’s a testament to the person Brendan is that he can be a tough outback bloke and yet show such vulnerability for not only his sake but for those affected by mental health issues. He has opened up real and raw conversations.
Such a great inspirational read!
Such a great inspirational read!
March 21, 2026
A very moving, uplifting read. A must for anyone who has suffered, or is suffering from mental health issues.
This is a story I could read again.
This is a story I could read again.
April 10, 2026
Inspirational story of courage and resilience!
May 7, 2026
3.5 stars. Great to hear an Aussie man talking about depression. Extreme swimming has zero appeal to me but an interesting read/listen (listened on audiobook).
May 9, 2026
An inspiring read, although not for swimming the English Channel (!), the story is raw and inspiring and uplifting.
May 13, 2026
A great memoir about a sheep station memoir taking on the English Channel swim to help raise money for mental health charities. Cullen tells of his own mental health struggles and the swim itself.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews