A man attempting to “run” on the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to New York in a homemade contraption ended up washing ashore after a short journey when he realized he was missing some safety equipment.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release the “hydropod” with Reza Baluchi, 49, inside ended up on a beach early Saturday morning. Baluchi told the sheriff’s office that “complications” forced him to call of his trip.
Baluchi had left the St. Augustine area Friday, according to the sheriff’s office. The Sun-Sentinel reports Baluchi decided to call it off when he realized that safety and navigation equipment he considered essential had been stolen, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Poor weather also complicated his effort, reports say.
Baluchi tells Fox 35 Orlando he was attempting the trip to raise money for police and fire departments, the Coast Guard, and homeless people.
Fox 35 reports this is Baluchi’s third attempt at trying to make a long trip in his hydropod. He had to be rescued in the previous two attempts, including a try at reaching Bermuda.
“I’ll never give up my dream,” Baluchi said. “They stop me four or five times but I never give up.”
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