Australian documentary Don’t Be Prey is now in UK cinemas, following a nationwide Q&A tour with ocean swimmer Mark Sowerby and his coach Tim Denyer. Directed by Jeff Tseng and produced by PixelFrame, the film charts Sowerby’s decade-long quest to complete the Oceans Seven — seven of the world’s most dangerous marathon channel swims across five continents, an ordeal as unforgiving as Everest, but in open water.
After a life-changing event left him facing profound uncertainty, Sowerby turned to the ocean — not for glory, but for survival. Each crossing becomes more than a swim: a battle through darkness, numbing cold, treacherous currents and deadly marine life. To endure, he must keep his stroke steady, his movements controlled and his heart rate low — don’t be prey.
He completed the Oceans Seven with his final crossing of the Tsugaru Channel in Japan in June 2024, swimming through an underwater tsunami triggered by an earthquake mid-crossing. The result is not only a story of extreme physical endurance, but a powerful account of resilience, reinvention and healing.
The Q&A tour continues across the UK and Ireland through April, offering audiences the chance to hear first-hand about the swims, the fear, and what it takes to survive the ocean.