Jason Redman’s Journey from Near-Death to Charity Swim

Jason Redman’s motto? Just keep swimming.

Back in 2007, during a harrowing ambush in Iraq by al-Qaeda, Redman found himself on the brink of death. He was shot eight times, leading to severe injuries that affected his face, arms, and body.

Nevertheless, this decorated Navy SEAL transformed adversity into triumph, earning a Purple Heart for the serious wounds he sustained in that attack.

Now, he’s facing yet another challenge—participating in the annual New York City Seal Swim 2025. On Saturday, he will tackle a grueling 3½-mile swim across the Hudson River, battling strong currents to raise funds for charity.

“It’s a tough swim, a real gut check,” said the 50-year-old Redman, who will be taking part in this event for the third time. “Even Michael Phelps couldn’t swim against the current.”

Redman will join a diverse group of participants, including hundreds of former SEALs, veterans, police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, as they journey from Liberty State Park in New Jersey to Lower Manhattan.

Along the way, participants will pause at landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to perform rigorous exercises, including 100 push-ups and 22 pull-ups each time.

It’s no small feat.

“I’ve tackled quite a few difficult challenges since my injury, but this is probably one of the biggest,” he admitted.

For him, these water trials hold significant meaning. Initiated in 2019 by former Navy SEAL Ville Brown, the event honors fallen heroes, particularly those who lost their lives on 9/11.

Additionally, funds raised support the Navy SEAL Foundation, which aids veterans and their families, just as it helped Redman through his recovery.

When the event first started, only 35 SEALs participated; this weekend, 375 competitors are expected, with hopes of raising $700,000, adding to the more than $1 million already generated.

Redman trains rigorously for around six months leading up to the event, incorporating varied routines that include swimming a mile, performing hundreds of push-ups, and engaging in outdoor runs on a treadmill.

It’s truly a remarkable comeback for someone who was once thought unlikely to survive, let alone engage in distance swimming.

Redman’s path to the Hudson began on September 13, 2007, when he was involved in a crucial mission in Western Iraq. His team was tasked with taking out high-ranking al-Qaeda and rebel leaders.

“We found ourselves in a well-laid ambush,” he recalled, detailing the intense firefight that changed everything.

During the engagement, Redman sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including one to his face, which he described vividly. “A bullet hit me from behind, right in front of my ear, shattering my nose and blowing out my right cheekbone,” he said, revealing the extent of his injuries.

His team was eventually rescued and evacuated to a hospital in Baghdad after a swift response from a gunboat.

“It took four years and 40 surgeries to get me where I am now,” Redman shared, noting that doctors initially considered amputating his badly damaged arm but ultimately managed to save it.

The toll, however, extended beyond the physical.

“There’s this inherent urge to return to who you were before the injury,” he reflected. “I vividly remember my first rehabilitation session. I wasn’t prepared for the exercises and struggled to pick up plastic cones.”

Eventually, he had to accept a new normal. “I’ll never be the same,” he stated, acknowledging the deep impact of his injuries.

Despite his challenges, Redman has made significant progress. He has regained some strength and even resumed doing pull-ups and push-ups.

His swimming style has adapted too. “I’m not a freestyle swimmer—I typically swim sidestrokes and breaststrokes. But my altered range of motion actually suits freestyle swimming quite well,” he explained.

As he prepares to tackle the Hudson this weekend, Redman hopes his journey serves as inspiration for others facing adversity.

“We all experience setbacks,” he remarked, “but I’m living a second chance and hope it shows others that they can overcome too.”