Pete hailed hero of Atlantic rescue (From Western Telegraph)

Pete hailed hero of Atlantic rescue

NEYLAND-based Pete Bray, one of the four rowers whose Atlantic record bid was dashed last weekend, is keen to attempt the challenge again.

On day 39 of their bid to cross the Atlantic from Canada in 55 days, a total distance of 2,100 miles, their boat, Pink Lady, was ripped in half by a 60-foot high wave. They were then 300 miles from their finishing point at Falmouth.

Now Pete, a 48-year-old outdoor pursuits instructor and security consultant, has been hailed a hero by his team mates.

Skipper Mark Stubbs said: "Pete saved the day, retrieving the life-raft and equipment from the water. He saved John from drowning and even after all that he kept everyone spirits up while we waiting for help.

"He is definitely a hero. I'm not sure about the rest of us, but I know Pete is looking at this as unfinished business."

Pete, an ex-SAS diver and world record breaking kayaker, dived into the sinking vessel to salvage a liferaft and survival kit.

Once the raft had been inflated, he dived a second time to retrieve flares, global positioning equipment and the satellite phone that enabled the crew to contact Falmouth Coastguard.

He also struggled, in Force 11 winds, to pull The Times journalist, John Wills, out of the water when his suit started filling up.

In the raft, Pete told jokes and battle stories, to stop crew member, Jonathan Gornall, who was suffering from hypothermia, from going to sleep.

Pete, Mark, Jonathan and John were in the raging seas for four hours, before they were rescued by the Swedish ship, Scandinavian Reefer, following a search and rescue co-ordinated by Falmouth Coastguard.

They were landed at the Irish port of Foynes, near Limerick, and were later reunited with friends and family at Southampton Airport.

The record attempt was sponsored by Pink Lady apples and helped raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.