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John Fairfax, first person to row solo across Atlantic, dies aged 74 John Fairfax, first person to row solo across Atlantic, dies aged 74
(about 2 hours later)
John Fairfax, the first person on record to row a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean, has died at his Las Vegas-area home. He was 74.John Fairfax, the first person on record to row a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean, has died at his Las Vegas-area home. He was 74.
The self-described "professional adventurer" died on 8 February of an apparent heart attack in Henderson, his wife, Tiffany, said on Sunday.The self-described "professional adventurer" died on 8 February of an apparent heart attack in Henderson, his wife, Tiffany, said on Sunday.
Fairfax gained international attention in 1969 when he became the first person in recorded history to cross the Atlantic alone by rowboat. He dealt with sharks, storms and exhaustion on the six-month, 5,000-mile (8,045km) journey from the Canary Islands to Florida. Fairfax, who was British, gained international attention in 1969 when he became the first person in recorded history to cross the Atlantic alone by rowboat. He dealt with sharks, storms and exhaustion on the six-month, 5,000-mile (8,045km) journey from the Canary Islands to Florida.
In 1972 he and his girlfriend, Sylvia Cook, became the first known people to row across the Pacific Ocean, surviving a shark attack and cyclone on the year-long, 8,000-mile (12,875km) trip from San Francisco to Australia.
Fairfax wrote separate books about his ocean crossings that were both published in the 1970s.		In 1972 he and his girlfriend, Sylvia Cook, became the first known people to row across the Pacific Ocean, surviving a shark attack and cyclone on the year-long, 8,000-mile (12,875km) trip from San Francisco to Australia.
Fairfax wrote separate books about his ocean crossings that were both published in the 1970s.
"He was a man of unbelievable strength and courage and confidence in everything he did," Tiffany Fairfax said. "He thought nature was a worthy challenge and he loved nature.""He was a man of unbelievable strength and courage and confidence in everything he did," Tiffany Fairfax said. "He thought nature was a worthy challenge and he loved nature."
Fairfax used two different custom-made boats on the ocean journeys, she said, and navigated by the stars. He survived by eating up to eight pounds of fish a day and used a system to convert ocean water into drinking water.Fairfax used two different custom-made boats on the ocean journeys, she said, and navigated by the stars. He survived by eating up to eight pounds of fish a day and used a system to convert ocean water into drinking water.
"On the Pacific a shark took a big chunk of his arm" when he was spearing fish, Tiffany Fairfax said. "There you are on the Pacific Ocean and there's no hospital, and you need to row. He was an amazing, amazing human being.""On the Pacific a shark took a big chunk of his arm" when he was spearing fish, Tiffany Fairfax said. "There you are on the Pacific Ocean and there's no hospital, and you need to row. He was an amazing, amazing human being."
John Fairfax enjoyed many other adventures, including a trip to the Amazon jungle and a stint as a pirate. He spoke five languages, loved to cook and regularly played the card game baccarat at Las Vegas casinos, his wife said.John Fairfax enjoyed many other adventures, including a trip to the Amazon jungle and a stint as a pirate. He spoke five languages, loved to cook and regularly played the card game baccarat at Las Vegas casinos, his wife said.
Ex-girlfriend Cook, 73, who lives near London, remained lifelong friends with John Fairfax. "He's always been a gambler," she told the New York Times after his death. "He was going to the casino every night when I met him it was craps in those days. And at the end of the day, adventures are a kind of gamble, aren't they?"Ex-girlfriend Cook, 73, who lives near London, remained lifelong friends with John Fairfax. "He's always been a gambler," she told the New York Times after his death. "He was going to the casino every night when I met him it was craps in those days. And at the end of the day, adventures are a kind of gamble, aren't they?"
His only immediate survivor is his wife of 31 years, who moved with him to Las Vegas in 1992 after a hurricane in Florida where they had lived.His only immediate survivor is his wife of 31 years, who moved with him to Las Vegas in 1992 after a hurricane in Florida where they had lived.