Frenchman Jean-Jacques Savin wanted to prove that his age was not an obstacle, and decided to cross the Atlantic. By rowing.
On Friday, however, the Portuguese Coast Guard found his boat capsized. The next day, a diver found the adventurer lifeless inside the cabin, according to The Guardian.
– Not in danger
The 75-year-old has previously worked as a paratrooper and became known as an adventurer when in 2019 he crossed the Atlantic in a specially made barrel. At that time, thousands followed his 127-day journey on Facebook.
BARREL SAILING: In 2019, the adventurous Savin crossed the Atlantic in a barrel. Photo: Georges Gobet / AFP / NTB
view more
So now Savin wanted to reach the Caribbean once again. But this time in an eight meter long and 1.7 meter wide rowing boat with a resting station in the middle.
On January 1, the Frenchman took the rowing boat and set off from the coast of Portugal.
After a short time, he met his first challenge due to unfavorable wind conditions, and had to change the route with 900 kilometers extra.
The purpose of the trip is said to have been that Savin turned 75 last Friday, and wanted to “laugh in old age”.
On Wednesday, he reported strong currents and winds on Facebook. He also wrote that he had to switch from using an electric desalination device to a manual back-up device.
– It costs me a lot of energy, but I am not in danger, he wrote on Facebook.
Record infection led to panic
– Very worried
Before Savin was found on Saturday, his team stated that they were “very worried” about the 75-year-old.
The last sign of life from the adventurer should have been the night before Friday, the team has stated.
Then he is said to have fired two emergency beacons and warned that he was in “great danger”, writes The Guardian.
Following the alert, a search was immediately launched with French, Portuguese and American sea rescue services.
His last sign of life was sent from the north of Madeira, a Portuguese island off the northwest coast of Africa.
BIRTHDAY ON BOARD: The Frankman had, among other things, goose liver, mandolin and champagne on board the boat. Photo: Philippe Lopez / AFP / NTB
view more
Later Friday, the Portuguese Coast Guard found the boat capsized off the Azores archipelago.
On Saturday, they sent a diver down to examine the boat. Then they found a lifeless Savin inside the boat’s cabin.
Got two choices: Amputation or death
Had with champagne
Savin had 300 kilos of equipment with him in the rowing boat, including freeze-dried food, firearms for fish, a heater and two desalination devices.
As he turned 75 years old after setting out on an adventure, he also brought a mandolin, goose liver and champagne on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
– I am going on holiday on the high seas, he is said to have stated before he left.
His plan was to row eight hours a day and lock himself in the cabin when it was too windy.
–
