Injured rower gives up

2003-11-18 08:14

Wellington - A research ship was on Tuesday heading to pick up a British adventurer forced to abort an attempt to row from New Zealand to South Africa after hitting his head and breaking his oars.

It is the second time in a month Jim Shekhdar, 57, has abandoned his attempt to become the first person to row from the southern New Zealand port of Bluff to Cape Town, via Cape Horn, a journey of about 21 000 kilometres.

A New Zealand government-owned research vessel, RV Tangaroa, has been diverted to collect the solo rower and should reach him late on Tuesday, New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesperson Paul Harrison said.

"His boat had rolled several times in rough seas and he had a bump on his head," Harrision said.

"Everything on the top of his boat had been swept away and his oars had broken - he can't row anywhere."

Shekhdar, who had covered about 1 200 kilometres since setting out on November 5, still had satellite communication and was maintaining regular contact with his rescuers.

It was his second attempt at the trip. He orginally set out from Bluff on October 16 but was forced to return the following day because of mechanical problems with his boat.

- AFP