Authorities recently thwarted a Florida man’s unconventional plan to “run” across the Atlantic Ocean in a giant floating hamster wheel.
This was one of several oceanic voyages attempted by Reza Baluchi, with failed runs in 2014, 2016, and 2021.
This morning, the #FCSO responded to a call about a vessel washing ashore in the Hammock area.
Thank you to the concerned citizens who reported this. We are happy to announce that the occupant of the vessel is safe with no injuries! #SeeSomethingSaySomething pic.twitter.com/zlenQd1tX7
— Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (@FlaglerSheriff) July 24, 2021
The 44-year-old marathoner was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard 70 miles off the Georgia coast on August 26. Baluchi’s homemade vessel was a large metal drum equipped with inflatable buoys and runner-powered paddles.
https://t.co/kfxvEX5V4L
Florida man arrested by Coast Guard for trying to cross Atlantic in human-sized hamster wheel pic.twitter.com/rtoIKobwOs— Global News (@Fashion6001) September 6, 2023
When questioned by the officers, Baluchi told them he was headed to London, as described in the criminal complaint later filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Deciding that Baluchi was “conducting a manifestly unsafe voyage,” the officers requested that he disembark, to which he reportedly “replied that he was armed with a 12-inch knife and would attempt to commit suicide should the USCG officers attempt to remove him from the Vessel,” according to the court filing.
The following day, the bizarre standoff between Baluchi and the Coast Guard apparently escalated to the man threatening to blow himself up and showing officers an alleged explosive device.
On August 28, after officers attempted to bring Baluchi food, water, and other supplies, he admitted the bomb threat was a bluff. He agreed to board the Coast Guard vessel the following day and was brought to the Coast Guard base in Miami Beach, Florida, on September 1.
The saga ended with Baluchi landing in hot water. He faces several federal charges, including obstruction of boarding and violation of a Captain of the Port order.
“I’ll never give up my dream. They stop me four or five times, but I never give up,” Baluchi said, according to Fox News.
He claims to have been attempting these stunts in a bid to raise money for various worthy causes.
“My goal is to not only raise money for homeless people, raise money for the Coast Guard, raise money for the police department, raise money for the fire department,” Baluchi explained. “They are in public service, they do it for safety, and they help other people.”
As previously reported in The Dallas Express in its coverage of the massive search and rescue efforts for OceanGate Expeditions’ missing submersible, it is maritime law and the policy of the Coast Guard not to charge for its services, no matter how high the bill.
