A foolish Florida marathon runner got busted while trying to run across the Atlantic in a giant hamster wheel – and with a hurricane racing in.
Reza Baluchi, 44, was spotted late last month about 70 miles off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia, as Hurricane Franklin caused life-threatening waves and current conditions, in a criminal complaint shared by Fox News.
The photo shows him at the center of a unique homemade contraption, or Hydro Pod, which consists of a metal drum with inflatable floats on each side, as well as powered paddles that run into the ball.
“Based on the condition of the vessel – which was afloat due to wiring and buoys – USCG officials determined that Baluchi was conducting a manifestly unsafe voyage,” the affidavit said.
Baluchi reportedly told his rescuers that he planned to “run” another 4,000 miles across the ocean to London – then repeatedly threatened to kill himself rather than end his risky run.
Reza Baluchi, 44, was arrested last week after Coast Guard officers found him in a homemade vessel off the coast of Georgia. AFP/Getty Images
Officers asked Baluchi standard questions before deeming him to be on a “manifestly unsafe voyage.” Facebook / Reza Baluchi
Baluchi was rescued 70 miles off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia by Coast Guard officers. X / USCG Southeast
He claimed to have a 12-inch knife and also a bomb, sparking a three-day standoff before he finally disembarked Friday at the USCG Base in Miami Beach, Florida.
Baluchi’s strange attempt to reinvent the wheel suddenly backfired — when he was charged federally with obstructing boarding and violating the orders of the Port Captain.
Baluchi’s was previously stopped doing similar stunts on its Hydro Pod in 2014, 2016 and 2021.
Baluchi has pulled off similar stunts at least three times before, starting as early as 2014. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Baluchi threatened to kill himself if officers tried to arrest him, and falsely claimed to have a bomb on board. Tribune News Service via Getty Images
“My goal is not only to raise money for the homeless, to raise money for the Coast Guard, to raise money for the police department, to raise money for the fire department,” Baluchi told Fox 35 after his 2021 performance.
“They’re in public service, they’re doing it for safety, and they’re helping other people.”
Even after he was stopped several times, Baluchi said he had no plans to give up.
Baluchi said he took the trip to raise funds for various charitable causes, including the US Coast Guard. Facebook / Reza Baluchi
Baluchi faces federal charges for obstructing boarding and violating the orders of the Port Captain. Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
“I will never give up on my dream. They stopped me four or five times, but I never gave up,” he said.
With Postal wire.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
