A CITY fireman caused a splash by scooping 14 swimming medals at the World Firefighter Games.

Chris Aust, 28, who works at Kidlington Fire Station, won eight gold and six silver medals at the event in Daegu, South Korea.

Despite suffering severe jet-laghe beat firefighters from around the globe to secure his biggest ever haul of wins.

Mr Aust also raised more than £2,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity, which offers help and support to firefighters injured in the line of duty.

Mr Aust said: “I’ve been swimming all my life and these games were tough. What was difficult was the time difference, when I was racing my body clock thought it was 1am.

“ I lost my 50m breaststroke title in the Liverpool 2008 World Firefighters Games and was keen to get that back.

“I trained hard and was delighted to win gold.”

Mr Aust also took gold in the 50m freestyle race, the 50m butterfly and the 100m breaststroke contest.

He also won gold in four relay events.

He won silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke events, the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle races and in the 200m individual medley.

The Oxford 50m breaststroke champion and former county record holder said: “The games are a great way to meet new people and strengthen international relationships within the fire service. They are also an opportunity to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity, which does an amazing job in helping firefighters all over the country.”

Mr Aust was part of the UK Fire Service Swimming Team at the games in August.

He is now preparing for the 2011 World Police and Fire Games, which will be held in New York.

Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for safer and stronger sommunities, said: “Chris is a superb firefighter and has done incredibly well at the World Firefighters Games. We are so proud of him for achieving such outstanding results. Not only has he won, but he has also raised an enormous sum of money for an extremely worthy cause.

“We wish him success in his next challenge, which he will undoubtedly excel in.”