Watch: Brave challengers tough it out at Shropshire border event

It is one of the world's toughest physical endurance tests – and it attracted thousands of thrill seekers from across the world.

Almost 5,000 people took part in the event near Pattingham, battling mud, electric shocks, fire and Viet Cong tunnels to claim the Tough Guy title.

They came from near and far, with around 1,000 travelling from overseas, some from as far away as Australia.

Of those who took part, 3,500 managed to finish the 200-plus obstacle course, which has been staged at South Perton Farm for almost three decades.

One of the British participants was three-time Tough Guy champion James Appleton.

"You have to be good at suffering, good at pain." That was how he described the athletes who took on the challenge.

Yesterday was Appleton's 12th Tough Guy, the fifth in winter, and it was an obstacle part-way through the course where competitors were dunked under water several times that won the honour of hardest challenge for him.

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He said: "It's just a game-changer. You are racing up until that point and after that it is about surviving to the finish.

"It is like the worst ice cream headache ever.

"You come out and you don't know where you are or what your name is."

Originally from the Wirral, he was third in this year's race.

While the South Staffordshire Tough Guy is the original, first started in 1986, Appleton said these events had 'blown up' worldwide over the past few years and were becoming a sport.

The 28-year-old said: "I will be back again next year.

"There is something wrong with all of us. You have to be good at suffering, good at pain."

The biggest concern during the annual event is hypothermia, and a small army was on site throughout the day, with two doctors, 10 nurses, 10 paramedics, and 65 first aiders, along with fire fighters, 50 divers, 150 ATC cadets and 50 special forces people working as marshals.