BUTLER TWP — A dislocated shoulder aborted Bill Wilson’s attempt to swim the English Channel with less than five miles to go.

That was nearly eight years ago.

The then 55-year-old Butler Township resident figured his open water swim career was over at that point.

What happened to him since increased that probability.

“I’ve had a series of health issues after that,” Wilson, 62, said. “Two shoulder surgeries, development of atrial fibrillation, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, had a pacemaker implant ... I’ve run the gambit.”

But he couldn’t stay away from swimming.

For the past four years, Wilson has been giving swimming lessons at the Butler YMCA, where he has been a member for 38 years.

“To take a 6-year-old, petrified of the water at first, and work with that kid and see his glowing face after he swims a lap is very rewarding,” he said.

In October of last year, Wilson decided to reward himself by making a swimming comeback.

His goal was being able to complete the 4.4-mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim by this month.

“After I had rotator cuff surgery, I couldn’t do anything physical for a year,” Wilson said. “Then, last October, I started swimming and it felt so good. I couldn’t stay dormant anymore.

“It’s therapeutic for me, being in the water. I can’t do running because it’s too hard on my knees. But I can swim.”

He began swimming at the Butler Y every day at 6:30 a.m., “for one or two hours, depending on how I feel physically” and got himself back in condition.

On June 14, Wilson completed his third Great Chesapeake Bay Swim. His next goal is the 8-mile Boston Light Swim, something he accomplished in 2005 and 2007.

He hopes to attempt that swim again in 2016.

“We’ll see how I feel in January and go from there,” Wilson said. “I know my pace is much slower now, but I suppose that’s natural.

“I was swimming at a 27 to 30-mile pace when I was training for the English Channel. Now I’m at a 33 to 36-mile pace. When you get older, you get slower — but you can still do it.”

Wilson admits taking another shot at the English Channel isn’t likely in the cards.

“That day is gone,” he said.

But other days are dawning.

In the past 15 years, Wilson has participated in the Waikiki Rough Water Swim, North Shore Challenge, Escape from Alcatraz, Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, Boston Light Swim, Walden Pond, pier to pier swims along the Outer Banks coast line, the English Channel qualifier at Lake Arthur and the English Channel swim itself.

He’s looked at the 22-mile Catalina Island to the coast of California swim, “but there’s been shark attacks in that area, so I’ve re-thought that idea.”

Wilson pointed out that a six-mile open water swim is equal to a 26.2-mile run because swimming requires use of all muscles in the body.

“Just the constant rotating of the neck is grueling,” he said.

The Boston Light Swim has been a tradition in that city since 2007. Yet only 25 or fewer swimmers participate in the 8-mile swim while 30,000 run the Boston Marathon.

Wilson further stated that only 1,400 solo swimmers have completed the English Channel while 3,500 have climbed Mt. Everest.

“Open water swimming envelops all of your senses,” Wilson said. “I’ve always wondered why more people don’t get involved with it.

“No matter how I’m feeling, physically, mentally ...Water has a tendency to clear everything up.”