Swimming school owner 'went wrong way' before vanishing in Bosphorus race

A swimmer whodisappeared during a racewas "seen" by another competitor who claims he deliberately went the wrong way, as the mystery deepens.

Swimming school owner and professional coach Nikolai Svechnikov, 29, was allegedly spotted midway between Asia and Europe as he crossed the Bosphorus - but did not reach the finishing line. A massive ongoing hunt for the Russian - both on land and in the water, involving 500 people and the Turkish navy - has so far failed to locate him following Sunday’s race where 2,900 people took part.

His distraught wife Antonina, 27, pleaded for any information over the missingfather-of-one who flew from Moscow to Istanbul specifically for the Bosphorus Cross-Continent Swim.

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One theory is that he got into trouble unnoticed - and drowned. But now another participant has said he saw Svechnikov swimming - strongly - in the wrong direction, as if deliberately heading for the shore away from the finishing line.

The other man repeatedly called out to him, but the swimmer continued in the wrong direction, he told Turkish journalists after being interviewed by police. Amateur swimmer Hayati Şamiloğlu told investigators he called out 10 or 15 times to another swimmer who he believes was the Russian: “Bro, bro! Wrong way!”

He explained: “He heard me, he seemed to understand me, but he made a gesture as if to say, 'I know what I'm doing, don't interfere with me' and continued swimming in the same direction. He was a very strong swimmer. There was not much current in the Bosphorus [on Sunday]. The wind was not strong, there was not much current.”

The Turkish man said: “He was doing an intentional swim, I think he went ashore, not drowning….he was not so confused.” Şamiloğlu said: “When I saw his picture in the press, I recognised him....'Oh, he is the person who raises his head in this sea and looks towards me’."

All participants wore a chip for the swim - which relayed information only on entering and leaving the water. It did not have a GPS capability. In Svechnikov’s case, it indicates he did not leave the water, according to the latest reports.

Earlier, it was reported coastguard sources believed he may have left the sea. The depth of the Bosphorus along the swim’s route is as much as 360ft but averages 213ft.

Rescue boats were on hand along the four miles stretch during the swim and no other participants were missing. Antonina - mother of the vanished swimmer’s eight-month-old son, pleaded: "I’m asking for your help!

“If anyone is near the Bosphorus shore, on either side of the strait, please join me in searching for my husband…. He was wearing an Arena sleeveless swimsuit and a green cap with the number 2554. He also has a tattoo on his entire left arm.”

The swimmer’s mother said: “I do not believe that everything will be fine, but I know for sure. We just need to find my son.” Svechnikov passed a medical test immediately before taking part, and is a Russian master of sport in swimming.