André Wiersig is not your average swimmer who just goes to his local swimming pool. This is a man who likes to push the boundaries of what is humanly possible, swimming out in the open seas without any protection from the cold.

In this part, we find out how it all began and why extreme swimming is not the way to go if you are mainly interested in exercising to look good.

How does André Wiersig prepare for the cold? How did he get into the game in the first place? Watch this clip to find out.

André Wiersig has had some brushes with death in his time. He tells us about his experiences and the peaceful relationship he has with the other species that swim with him in the ocean.

Strength training is also part of André Wiersig's preparation for his aquatic challenges. That can sometimes be quite painful... This extreme swimmer tells us how he manages to keep the pain at bay.

André Wiersig is aware that most people think he is crazy, but for him, crossing the straits and swimming in the ocean is much more than just an athletic challenge.

André Wiersig has become an ambassador for the seas and shares his experiences in talks—he sees this as his purpose on earth. Now he has swum across all seven straits, the last one being the Strait of Gibraltar. What will be his next challenge?

Radiant blue sky, pleasant temperatures and the hard winter is already almost forgotten. Spring is here. Shortly after the calendrical beginning of the mild time of the year, nature and man get ready for sunnier times. Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

For dog lovers: with the coming of the European Union, the once dominant breed, the German shepherd, is falling out of favor as a K9 service animal. Höchst interessant!

Thomas Raudnitzky from RheinMain TV reports from the Hanau techno festival “Love Family Park” but still manages to give the weather for the Rhine/Main area.

Walter Günther is a throwback from a by-gone day! This Frankfurt tinkerer/inventor gives us a glimpse of his 19th century metal workshop. Take a look for yourself and see, for example, a completely automated grill that browns sausages evenly and his whimsical "Schaumkusswurfmaschine". [lit. "foam-kiss throwing machine"] Viel Spaß wünsche ich euch dabei!

Gabriela and Mira from Karlsruhe talk about SINGinKA, the local choir project they founded. Their group doesn't have the same structure as most choirs – and is therefore much more open to all types of singing enthusiasts!

New technology championed by auto insurance companies in Germany has made it possible for cars to automatically notify emergency services in the event of an accident. Find out how it works in this video.
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

It’s amazing what the baggage handlers in Frankfurt’s airport manage to accomplish on a daily basis! A reporter from RheinMain TV has dared to put herself to the test.

Youngest Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel returns to his hometown, Heppenheim, just days after his victory in Abu Dhabi. The people of Heppenheim are ecstatic.