Isle of Tenerife

Former World motor racing champion Michael Schumacher fulfilled a lifetime’s dream when he went swimming with whales off the coast of Tenerife.

The seven-times Formula One champion was accompanied on the trip by his wife Corinna and two children.

After he retired from motor racing at the end of last season, the 38-year-old German had mentioned during one of many interviews that one of his life’s ambitions was to swim with whales.

Schumi called time on his 16-year F1 career after a record seven world titles and 91 Grand Prix victories.

Spanish Olympic swimmer David Meca read the report and rang the former Ferrari driver to offer to make his dream come true.

Meca knows the waters off Tenerife well, having once swum from Tenerife to the neighbouring island of La Gomera during a promotional and training exercise.

The area is home to an estimated 300 pilot whales, which can be up to 20ft in length.