Ex-Royal Marine and Crew Rescued During Atlantic Rowing Challenge

An ex-Royal Marine from Kent and his crew were rescued only days after commencing their attempt to traverse the Atlantic Ocean by rowing. Andy Merry, hailing from Deal, was participating in the 3,000-mile fundraising endeavor as one of a four-person team of injured former military personnel, which included Ukrainian veterans. The Row4Ukraine group encountered significant difficulties soon after their departure from Gran Canaria on Saturday, leading to them becoming marooned in the open ocean. Mr. Merry, who lives with multiple sclerosis, expressed his relief at being “happy to be back on dry land,” noting he had a new grandson awaiting him. The crew had initially aimed to complete the journey to Barbados in approximately six weeks. However, due to issues with the steering and the worsening condition of the deck, the choice was made to ensure their safety. Following hours of drifting, they were retrieved on Wednesday by a search and rescue helicopter. Mr. Merry commented: “I found it quite traumatic and I genuinely had a tear in my eye in that helicopter.” He added, “We’d invested so much in that boat it was almost like leaving a friend.” The objective of their expedition was to draw attention to the human toll of the conflict in Ukraine and to collect £150,000 for the Invictus Games Foundation. The team was headed by Lee Spencer, a former Royal Marine, an amputee, and a record-setting Atlantic rower. He stated: “The crew is gutted. But we had to make the right decision.” Mr. Merry expressed his uncertainty regarding whether he would attempt the challenge again.