Aaron Hughes is told he escaped being dragged under only because nine of the 10 turbines were not in operation 
 
 A British man has been fined for swimming across the Colorado river at the Hoover Dam while drunk on a stag do. 
 
 Aaron Hughes is thought to be the first person to survive the swim across the reservoir at the 221m-tall (726ft) structure, which is on the border of Arizona and Nevada. 
 
 The 28-year-old was told he escaped being dragged under only because nine of the 10 hydroelectric turbines were not in operation at the time. 
 
 Hughes, a forklift truck driver from Denbighshire, north Wales, was arrested immediately after getting out of the water and fined $330 (£250). 
 
 He told the Daily Post: “It was around 45-50 degrees outside and we were on a stag do in Vegas. You go to Vegas to have fun, don’t you? We made the Hangover movie look tame. 
 
 
 
 “We were all just standing there and I thought fuck it, I’m going for a swim. I got to the bottom and thought: I can make that.” 
 
 His friends, who have since called him a legend, were supportive of the stunt. Hughes said: “I literally just turned to the lads, said ‘I’m off’ and they were all cheering me on and I swam across. It’s a hell of a sight to see the dam from underneath.” 
 
 It took him 30 minutes to cross the reservoir. “Even though I was knackered halfway across, I knew I had to get to the other side. The water was pulling me in towards the dam.” 
 
 In the last 10 years, 275 people have died at the site and no one had previously survived swimming across its breadth. However, it is thought that had all of the turbines been switched on, Hughes also would not have survived. 
 
 The police were waiting for him when he climbed back out and he was put into handcuffs before being issued the fine. Of his arrest, he said: “I didn’t realise it was an offence. There are no signs saying no swimming – you’re just expected not to.” 
 
 
 
 He did, however, admit the swim was “drink fuelled”. ||||| Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email 
 
 A forklift driver from North Wales has become the first person in history to survive swimming across the Hoover Dam reservoir in the United States. 
 
 Arron Hughes, 28, of Park Road Ruthin , was on a stag do with pals when he jumped into the water below the 725ft-high structure while on a 37 hour bender. 
 
 (Image: Arron Hughes) 
 
 He escaped being dragged under only because nine of the ten hydroelectric turbines were not in operation. 
 
 Speaking to the Daily Post, the ex Ysgol Brynhyfryd pupil talked about his dice with death and his journey into the history books. 
 
 He said: “It was around 45-50 degrees outside and we were on a stag do in Vegas. You go to Vegas to have fun don’t you? We made The Hangover movie look tame! 
 
 “We were all just standing there, and I thought, 'f*** it! I’m going for a swim'. I got to the bottom and thought ‘I can make that’. 
 
 (Image: Arron Hughes) 
 
 “I literally just turned to the lads, said ‘I’m off’ and they were all cheering me on and I swam across. It’s a hell of a sight to see the dam from underneath.” 
 
 The Hoover Dam, on the border of Arizona and Nevada, provides water and electricity for Las Vegas. 
 
 “I swam from Arizona to Nevada, I went across first and then swam back. But at the time I didn’t realise how many people had died doing it. I knew I could make it though. 
 
 “It took about 30 minutes to do. Even though I was knackered half way across I knew I had to get to the other side. The water was pulling me in towards the dam - it could have actually swept me away. 
 
 (Image: Getty Images) 
 
 “Because I went close to the dam first and I could feel it sucking me in, I thought ‘I've got to get out of here quick.’" 
 
 For the duration of the swim, Hughes kept his trainers on. But they didn’t aid in a speedy getaway from officers who were waiting at the other side. 
 
 “I did it with my shoes on. I wasn’t turning round once I go back. A pair of Lonsdales. Obviously I bought a new pair of trainers to go away with. 
 
 “When I got to the other end, the police were standing there. There was a steep rocky climb on the other side. 
 
 “The police officer shouted to me ‘Oi! Boy! Get your a*** up here!’ So I climbed out, and as soon as I got up there they arrested me. 
 
 “I was handcuffed and taken back to their office at the dam. 
 
 “One of them was an a******* but the others were alright. 
 
 “They were like ‘nobody has ever done this before.’ So in the end I just got a fine.” 
 
 (Image: Arron Hughes) 
 
 Police noted his offence down on the ticket as: “Jumping, diving, swimming from dam’s spillways or other structures.” 
 
 His adrenaline fuelled stunt has generated mixed opinions. 
 
 “My friends all think I’m a legend. 
 
 “My mum thinks I’m an idiot but she’s coming round. My dad has just been laughing at me, saying ‘well done son’. 
 
 “I didn’t realise it would become as big news as it has. I’ve never had my phone go off so much.” 
 
 (Image: Getty Images) 
 
 However, due to lack of official witnesses it is unlikely that the effort will be marked in the record books. 
 
 “The Guinness Book of World Records have contacted me. But they needed an official adjudicator there to see you do it. But I said I’m not f****** doing it again! Because they need an adjudicator it can’t go in. 
 
 “It almost warranted going back and doing it again.” 
 
 Hughes is far from an avid swimmer, but this is not the first time he has performed such death defying stunts. 
 
 “I did swimming badges when I was seven or eight but I’ve not really been swimming much since then. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie really. 
 
 “I’ve done some crazy things before, but not as mad as that though.I jumped off in to this quarry, and you’ve got to clear a 10ft gap underneath. If you fall off that, you will die. It’s on YouTube and it’s had over 20k views.” ||||| Arron Hughes swam from Arizona to Nevada on August 8. He said he had not seen any signs saying that it was prohibited The Sun/News Syndication 
 
 A fork-lift truck driver on a stag do in Las Vegas is believed to have become the first person to swim across the Hoover Dam and live to tell the tale — and pay the fine. 
 
 Arron Hughes from Ruthin in north Wales had no idea he was risking his life when he leapt into the Colorado River to cool off. Out of sight beneath the surface are 17 giant hydro-electric turbines, each of which could have sucked him under to his death. 
 
 Mr Hughes, 28, survived only because most of the turbines were turned off, although he had a close shave with one that was working. The authorities would have been able to identify him from his tattoo which says “no regrets”. 
 
 After his…
– The world's least shocking quote: A British man's admission that his fairly miraculous swim across the Hoover Dam reservoir was "drink fueled," per the Guardian. Arron Hughes speaks to the Daily Post about his Aug. 10 experience, which came after what he says was a 37-hour bachelor-party bender with friends in Las Vegas. He describes it as a brutally hot day and says that as they stood under the 726-foot-tall structure, he decided, "F--- it! I'm going for a swim." What he didn't know then that he knows now: Some 275 people have died at the dam over the last decade, and no one has successfully made it across the full width of the Colorado River there. But he apparently had luck on his side: Only one of the 10 hydroelectric turbines were powered on during his swim. "I swam from Arizona to Nevada," he tells the Post. "I went across first and then swam back. ... It took about 30 minutes to do. Even though I was knackered half way across I knew I had to get to the other side." He reportedly told the Sun that he was about 160 feet from the dam and felt a strong tug. "I was sucked towards the wall and had to swim hard." He says police were waiting for him and handcuffed him for what he didn't realize wasn't permitted, as he says there aren't any "no swimming" signs posted. "You're just expected not to." He says he ended up getting fined about $330, but, as the tattoo on his body reads, per the Times of London: "No regrets." (This bachelor party ended up being a scam.)