The Rottnest Channel Swim has been abandoned due to poor weather and compromised medical resources, with participants who have not reached the 14km mark told to immediately exit the water.
It is understood several swimmers have been rescued throughout the morning, with two sent to hospital.
A woman was airlifted off Rottnest Island and rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital and another man is headed to Fremantle, where an ambulance is understood to be waiting to transfer him to hospital.
Trying conditions were forecast for the race, making it a tough swim for most despite the more than 50 per cent of swimmers who had crossed the channel before.
Organisers texted participants at 9.45am advising of the cancellation.
“Weather conditions have deteriorated and medical resources are compromised,” the text said.
“For the safety of the event, every participant who has not reached the 14km mark, MUST immediately evacuate the water.”
Footage from participants and support team members shows overcast skies and choppy waves.
Just five swimmers have made it ashore, being applauded over the finish line by surf lifesavers just before 10.20am.
Port to Pub organisers, the other main Rottnest channel swim, posted to social media that it was “devastated” about the cancellation.
“We are devastated for the Rottnest Channel Swim Association having to make the disappointing and very difficult call to cancel the event,” it said in a post on Facebook.
“This is not a decision made easily — many highly qualified and experienced stakeholders come together to make this decision.
“It’s a year of hard work and planning that goes into this event to put on a great and safe swim for our community. Thank you for your commitment to the swimming community RCSA, our thoughts are with the committee.”
The race director’s weather report on Thursday warned conditions remained unpredictable, with swimmers likely to battle a fluctuating swell which was expected to shift between a 1m low to a 2m high by mid-afternoon.
The event was last halted in 2021 when rough conditions and strong currents led to the partial cancellation of the swim at 3pm.
More to come.