09 August 2004

Atlantic record bid rowers rescued

Four men who were attempting to break the world record for the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing in a rowing boat have been rescued after their vessel was snapped in two during a hurricane.

The record attempt ended early this morning after 60ft-high waves caused by Hurricane Alex snapped their vessel in half just 300 miles from home, west of the Scilly Isles.

The four clambered into a life-raft, where they clung on for six hours as waves continued to batter them, before a passing freight ship answered their distress call and picked them up.

Former Royal Marine Mark Stubbs, 40, Times newspaper journalist Jonathan Gornall, 48, ex-SAS man Pete Bray, 48, and navigation expert John Wills, 33, set off from St John's in Newfoundland, Canada, at the end of June. They had been hoping to break the 55-day record set more than 100 years ago by two Norwegian fishermen.

The crew are now on their way back to England after the Scandanavian ship, the Reefer, took them safely back to dry land in southern Ireland.

As part of their record attempt, the group hoped to raise more than £50,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) charity.

The BHF has saluted the courage of their four rowers.

BHF spokesman David Barker said: "We are extremely pleased that they are safe and well. That's the most important thing.

"The BHF relies on donations to fund our work fighting heart disease. But these men have put their own lives on the line to raise money for us, and that's an incredible thing to do. We salute their astonishing courage and bravery."

(gmcg)