After a strong start, averaging a speed of 1.43 metres per second over the first 50 metres, Sara went into her glide phase at around 60 metres, to freefall effortlessly to the plate at 100m, reaching the bottom in one minute 37 seconds...

Sara said: " Equalisation was no problem, I still had air at the bottom. Again the narcosis was there, but it is a manageable aspect of deep diving, and with more and more deep dives under my belt, I will build up my tolerance to it. After all, this is only my 19th dive since returning to training in January, and only my seventh dive over 80m during that time, after over a year's break."

Sara retrieved the tag, spending two seconds at the plate, and began her ascent. She maintained a good pace - for her (she is traditionally a very slow diver) - of around a metre per second through the first thirty metres off the bottom, slowing through the ascent, to around 0.7 metres per second for the second half of the ascent.

She saw her safety divers and looked strong as she free-floated through the last ten metres to the surface. She took one breath, but briefly lost consciousness on the surface, coming around just seconds later, with a smile and a cheeky 'Look, I've got the tag!' for the judges.

Sara's coach, Kerian Hibbs from New Zealand said: "I thought she had it. With a better hook breath on the surface next time, it's hers. I'm so proud of her. She's told me to shout more loudly at her next time." In a skype message to Sara on a returning home, Kerian said: "What you did today took real courage and regardless of the end result on the surface, you made that dive!"

After turning early on his No Fins World Record attempt earlier today, fellow Constant Weight World Record holder, Herbert Nitsch said: "I'm so jealous that you still have air at the bottom. How about I kick for you and you give me air." Negotiations are under way... Herbert and Sara now share not only the CWT World Record titles, but are also the reigning World Champion freedivers.

Sara added: "I'm not disheartened by my dive today, quite the opposite. Black-outs are a part of the sport and they give me vital feedback as to where I need to improve. Clearly I have the capacity to go even deeper, but need to work on my technique, strength and speed back to the surface, as well as hook breathing - in order to take the next step. Of course I don't have time to train all of that before Friday when I hope to go again, so I'll be focusing on the hook-breathing and hoping my body can do the rest."

Sara is now drinking lots of water and eating as much food as her wee body can handle - and practicing her hook breathing! She has announced that she will have another go at the record on Friday or Saturday, and feels confident that she will make it.