Man floating in bubble rescued by Coast Guard

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A longtime endurance runner and peace activist whose latest goal was to reach Bermuda in a homemade floating "Hydro Pod" was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday after he began suffering from fatigue.

Coast Guard air crew were able to safely pick up Reza Baluchi and the bubble Saturday morning, Coast Guard spokeswoman Marilyn Fajardo said in a statement. He was transported to a nearby Coast Guard station and found to be uninjured, Fajardo said.

A statement on Baluchi's website said the Iranian exile had planned to make the 1,033-mile trip in his self-designed bubble to raise money "for children in need" and "to ... inspire those that have lost hope for a better future."

Baluchi has made headlines many times before with previous efforts to break long-distance running and cycling records , including one six-month journey in which he ran around the perimeter of the United States, and a seven-year bike trip that he said brought him across 55 countries on six continents. His self-professed mission is to promote world peace and unity. His perimeter run was to raise money for a children's hospital, according to his website.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141004/us--floating_man_rescued-819484fbce.html

[WhiteTara]

1. I'm glad he got saved.

I'll bet that was a weird experience of looking at the sea in a bubble window.

[Strelnikov_]

2. Hydro Pod

[DBoon]

6. I was thinking more along these lines

[brooklynite]

7. C'mon, that's just TV...take a look at the REAL thing.

[Major Hogwash]

3. So that's where Geraldo Rivera was!!

[seveneyes]

4. Nice to have such free time to enjoy life while young and healthy

And obviously enough money to pay the Coast Guard for your rescue.

[MrScorpio]

5. Bermuda? BERMUDA?!?!

Wow.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Here's a bit of a biographical story of him done in 2012

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/30/sport/baluchi-running-iran-everest/

[6000eliot]

9. He was heard to ask, "Who is Number 1?"

[candelista]

10. I hope the Coast Guard sent him a bill. nt

[roguevalley]

11. his cause was good. i salute him and everyone else who gives enough of

a damn to DO something.

[Blue_Tires]

12. Oh, come on...

OK, his heart may have been in the right place, but this was an egotistical, half-assed ill-thought stunt from the start, and he's lucky to be alive -- And if he's serious about making another attempt, the Coast Guard should disregard any of his future mayday calls...

Miami to fucking BERMUDA on his own physical power? 1,033 MILES -- And that's just the straightline distance *before* he factors in the constants of wind and currents...

But like my grandmother used to say, God protects fools and children...

[FLPanhandle]

13. He made it 70 miles.

Less than 7% of the way. Still an impressive distance but a foolish plan. Wind and Current on a floating ball would overcome any propulsion he could impart on it.