Dead rower insisted he had 'physical and mental ability' to finish doomed trip

27 February 2024 , 13:32

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Michael Holt died at sea during a 2,942 mile trans Atlantic rowing trip (Image: Facebook)

A British rower found dead during an ambitious attempt to cross the Atlantic on his own had claimed he had 'a certain swagger' to pull off the feat.

Michael Holt was 700 miles into the trip when family lost contact and sent out a rescue mission, which sadly found him dead in his boat cabin. The 54-year-old was attempting the 2,942-mile crossing in a bid to raise cash for a mental health charity after his friend tragically took his own life.

The dad-of-one from Porthmadog, North Wales, spent two years training for the once-in-a-lifetime expedition, telling friends in a Facebook video posted weeks before the trip that he had the mental and physical ability to pull it off. Michael set off on Jauary 27 from Gran Canaria in a boat named 'True Blue', with his aim to finish in Barbados.

The clip posted online saw Michael, an experienced rower, showcase the vessel to his followers, as he confidently told friends he was ready to take on the mammoth voyage. "After all the hard work, blood, literally, sweat and tears, I can't believe I'm here," he told the camera. "I'm ready to go.

"I'm extremely motivated, I'm very relaxed, measured. I've got a certain swagger because I know I have the ability, both physically and mentally, to pull this off as crazy as it is. I cannot wait."

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Michael told Facebook friends he had the 'physical and mental ability to pull off' the crossing in a haunting video days before setting off (Facebook)

The 54-year-old was raising money for two different charities in memory of a friend (Facebook)

He also spoke of his plan to use the equatorial current to his advantage, adding "the Atlantic pleases itself". The boat Michael used was an original prototype made by Rannoch, with the boatmakers confirming this voyage would be the fifth undertaken by the vessel which had since undergone a "service and electrical refit".

Michael had been around 700 miles into the trip when he told friends he was beginning to suffer from sea sickness. He also experienced gruelling strong winds and the rudder of his boat was lost to a shark attack before this. Family raised the alarm after losing contact with him, and tragically Michael was discovered two days later.

The experienced rower had trained for months beforehand (Facebook)

Paying tribute, brother David said: "Of course this was not the ultimate conclusion we were looking for, but I am somewhat comforted knowing he died doing something he absolutely wanted to do with a passion and managed to row in excess of 700 miles in the process. An achievement in itself."

"This is a huge shock to myself, his wife Lynne and daughter Scarlett and my parents, not to mention wider family and friends. Many thanks for the kind words and wishes that you have already sent us during the past few days. They mean a great deal to all the family."

Michael had already managed to raise £6,000 for the charities Mind and Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS) with his efforts (£2,500 and £3,500 respectively).

Susie Beever