Film & Talk: Flight of the Swans

Union is proud to host an evening with world-record adventurer and conservationist Sacha Dench, also known as “The Human Swan.” 

In August 2025, Sacha became the first woman to complete a solo kayak crossing of the Irish Sea, and the first person to achieve this using orthotic supports following life-changing injuries. This record is part of her expedition UNSTOPPABLE: Sea to Summit, a human-powered journey by kayak and bicycle retracing the migration of the Bewick’s swan from Ireland to Estonia. 

On this occasion, we will screen her acclaimed documentary The Flight of the Swans (2023), which tells the story of her extraordinary paramotor journey from Arctic Russia to the UK in 2016, flying alongside the endangered Bewick’s swan. The film combines breathtaking aerial footage with powerful stories from communities along the flyway, while highlighting the urgent threats to migratory birds: wetland loss, climate change, and poisoning from lead ammunition, which still kills around a million waterbirds in Europe every year. 

After the screening, Sacha will share new insights from her current expedition, linking sports performance, resilience, and the urgent call for environmental action. There is free admission, and everyone is welcome to join us for this unique event! 

• Accessibility: Please note that the event is held on the 1st floor (Aula) and there is no elevator access.
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English