Twenty-four years ago on Wednesday, Stephen Attard was destined to be a vegetable for life, following the brain damage he suffered in a traffic accident that left him facing physical disabilities and memory loss.
Today, he is attempting to swim between Gozo and Malta in aid of LAND (Living Ability Not Disability) Group. The challenge is estimated to last eight hours - approximately double the time and distance he covered last year, when he crossed from Comino to Malta.
But Mr Attard is geared up for it, having stepped up his training to swimming eight hours daily, four times a week, from four hours last year.
"This year, he increased his swimming time by 30 minutes every two weeks until he reached eight hours at a stretch," says his mother, Margaret Attard, who, at 68, intends to swim the channel with him.
"He has trained me because I swim with him the whole time when we go to the sea. But whether I complete the crossing depends on how I feel (today)," she says.
Mr Attard is also being accompanied in the water by professional swimmer and doctor Nikki Farrugia, while another doctor is crossing the channel on one of the two boats accompanying him.
Today's challenge kicks off from Ħondoq ir-Rummien at 8 a.m. and should end at Marfa at 3 p.m. But Mr Attard is well aware that the length of time depends on a number of uncontrollable factors: currents, rough sea and... jellyfish.
So far, the jellyfish do not seem to be too threatening, while the weather is looking good although he was stung last Sunday.
Last year, however, saw him battling currents that dragged him away from his pre-determined finishing point. Mr Attard does a few strokes and stops for a rest - during which time he can be pushed off course if the currents are strong.
A fit and muscular man from before his horrific accident, Mr Attard finds his strength in the sea: "I have very strong muscles, but I cannot use them on land. I cannot play any sport because I do not have balance and the right co-ordination between my muscles and my mind. In fact, I use a walking stick.
"In the sea, I go wild. I do not need balance and it relieves most of my weight, leaving me free and strong. I'm a slow swimmer because I cannot use my legs properly. But in the long run, this helps because I don't exhaust my body and can keep going.
"I have always wanted to do this. I used to swim at St Paul's Bay and always wanted to cross to the islands. Two years ago, I did it. The next step was Comino, and now Gozo. But I'm not saying I'll do Sicily next year," he laughs.
However, he's already thinking of the next challenge and it is likely to be "something coastal".
Mr Attard is constantly forgetting things, but he is clear on one thing, which he repeats: "Do not let your disability overcome you; you can control it. If your left hand does not work, your right one does."
In fact, the aim of LAND is independence and inclusion through socialising into mainstream society.
Last year, around €2,300 was collected for the group and Mr Attard is hoping for more this year. Donations can be made by sending an SMS to 5061 8085 for €4.66; 5061 8938 for €6.99; and 5061 9229 for €11.65. They are also payable to HSBC account number 0750 3864 6050 and BoV account number 4001 4854 613.