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| Rower Graham Walters becomes oldest to cross Atlantic solo | Rower Graham Walters becomes oldest to cross Atlantic solo |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A 72-year-old man has become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic. | A 72-year-old man has become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic. |
| Graham Walters, from Leicestershire, set out from Gran Canaria in January and landed in Antigua on Wednesday. | Graham Walters, from Leicestershire, set out from Gran Canaria in January and landed in Antigua on Wednesday. |
| Doubt had been raised on the record as Mr Walters, making his fifth Atlantic crossing, had to be towed into port. | Doubt had been raised on the record as Mr Walters, making his fifth Atlantic crossing, had to be towed into port. |
| But official adjudicators the Ocean Rowing Society confirmed him as both the oldest person to cross solo and the oldest to cross any ocean multiple times. | But official adjudicators the Ocean Rowing Society confirmed him as both the oldest person to cross solo and the oldest to cross any ocean multiple times. |
| Mr Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, rowing the 3,000 miles to the Caribbean. | Mr Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, rowing the 3,000 miles to the Caribbean. |
| But with just miles to go, strong winds started to push him away from his destination and he had to be towed ashore. | But with just miles to go, strong winds started to push him away from his destination and he had to be towed ashore. |
| "The problem was with the wind. It was taking me past Antigua," Mr Walters said. | |
| "As I was rowing, I knew that I wouldn't have made the island so it was necessary to get a little bit of help." | "As I was rowing, I knew that I wouldn't have made the island so it was necessary to get a little bit of help." |
| The Ocean Rowing Society, which works with the Guinness records organisation, said it was satisfied he qualified as having rowed the Atlantic single-handed. | The Ocean Rowing Society, which works with the Guinness records organisation, said it was satisfied he qualified as having rowed the Atlantic single-handed. |
| In addition, it said he had also gained the record for oldest person to cross any ocean several times. | In addition, it said he had also gained the record for oldest person to cross any ocean several times. |
| His journey involved traversing rough seas, repairing broken equipment and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks. | His journey involved traversing rough seas, repairing broken equipment and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks. |
| Mr Walters, whose daily routine started with a breakfast of sausages, beans and porridge, said: "Dark rowing is fantastic because you are looking at where the sunrise comes up. You have all these colours and contours." | Mr Walters, whose daily routine started with a breakfast of sausages, beans and porridge, said: "Dark rowing is fantastic because you are looking at where the sunrise comes up. You have all these colours and contours." |
| Mr Walters, who may have to wait at least a fortnight to fly back to the UK, said he had learned of the UK's lockdown from his wife during his journey. | Mr Walters, who may have to wait at least a fortnight to fly back to the UK, said he had learned of the UK's lockdown from his wife during his journey. |
| After a restorative burger and chips upon landfall, he said it felt "kind of strange" to return to dry land. | After a restorative burger and chips upon landfall, he said it felt "kind of strange" to return to dry land. |
| "The body seems OK, but the legs haven't quite adjusted at the moment," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. | "The body seems OK, but the legs haven't quite adjusted at the moment," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. |
| Mr Walters was praised for his fundraising work for charity Help for Heroes. | Mr Walters was praised for his fundraising work for charity Help for Heroes. |
| David Martin, head of supporter fundraising for the charity, said: "Few of us would attempt such a challenge in the first flush of youth - let alone in our seventies. | David Martin, head of supporter fundraising for the charity, said: "Few of us would attempt such a challenge in the first flush of youth - let alone in our seventies. |
| "Graham is clearly a remarkable and determined man." | "Graham is clearly a remarkable and determined man." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.maston | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.maston |