Happy to to be home alive and well - that's solo ocean rower Andrew Halsey who escaped with his life after his latest attempt to conquer the Pacific almost ended in disaster.
He was rescued and is now back with his family in England. But it was almost a different story.
The 46-year-old, whose family home is in Clacton, was trapped under the 29ft Brittany Rose for almost four hours after it was pounded by storms and debris.
"I have lost count of the number of times we capsized," he said.
"However, when we were hit by the debris, I thought the boat was going to break up. It was 5am and I was taken by surprise.
"We didn't self-right and were left upside down in the water for three to four hours.
"I just had a small air gap between my chest and the top of the bulk head before I managed to get her back upright."
Andrew said there was no chance of carrying on and he had to accept he needed rescuing.
"There were times when I wondered if I would get out of there," he added.
He was rescued by a boat and transferred on a Coastguard cutter vessel where he spent the next week before landing at Guatemala.
From there he flew back to England yesterday.
Andrew said he is taking a couple of weeks out with family and friends, sharing his time between his parents home in Clacton, his sister Amanda's pub the Castle Inn in Colchester and his flat in London.
Published Friday, April 11, 2003
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