Key takeaways:
- Reza “Ray” Baluchi, 51, was arrested by the U.S. Coast Guard approximately 60 miles off the coast of South Carolina
- Baluchi had reportedly refused to get off the vessel he was on and had displayed “two knives and threatened to harm himself or the crew” when the Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel
- This is reportedly the fourth time Baluchi has attempted to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade vessel
A Florida ultra-marathoner and peace activist has been arrested and is facing felony charges after attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade “human-powered hamster wheel”.
Reza “Ray” Baluchi, 51, was spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard approximately 60 miles off the coast of South Carolina last week. The Coast Guard said Baluchi was 70 miles off of Georgia’s coast when officers found him during a “manifestly unsafe voyage” while Hurricane Franklin was headed toward the area.
Baluchi had reportedly refused to get off the vessel he was on and had displayed “two knives and threatened to harm himself or the crew” when the Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel. The Coast Guard said the vessel “was afloat as a result of wiring and buoys.”
Baluchi had told the Coast Guard that he was heading for London, England, but he was repeatedly told that his vessel was unsafe and should not be in use. He was arrested and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
This is reportedly the fourth time Baluchi has attempted to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade vessel. He has previously attempted to cross the Atlantic in a bubble, a hydro-pod, and a human-powered boat.
The U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement that they take “all maritime threats seriously and will use all available resources to ensure the safety of life at sea.”
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