Rescued rower to volunteer for UK Coastguard

Klara Anstey said the US Coastguard was "amazing" when she was rescued in the Atlantic

A rower who had to be rescued in the North Atlantic says the experience has inspired her to apply to join the UK Coastguard.

Klara Anstey, 51, was part of a crew of four people who planned to row 3,500 miles from Boston to London in what they dubbed the London Calling challenge.

The first crew to attempt the route, they had expected to complete the row in 45 days but had to be rescued by the US Coastguard six days in, due to equipment failure.

Mother-of-two Ms Anstey, from Bristol, said although the voyage did not go to plan, it had given her "a lot of confidence".

"The rescue was amazing," Ms Anstey said. "It has inspired me to apply to be a volunteer for the UK Coastguard - I need to repay that favour back."

Ms Anstey is currently in the application stage of working with the UK Coastguard and hopes to hear back from the team in the coming months.

James Instance, HM Coastguard divisional commander based at Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: "Our more than 3,000 volunteers are the lifeblood of the frontline Coastguard Rescue Service and we are hugely grateful for their 24/7 dedication."

Ms Anstey (L) and the London's Calling team planned to row from Boston to London

Ms Anstey, originally from South Wales, joined Bryan Fuller, John Lowry and Elizabeth Gilmore in the specially-equipped rowing boat on 1 June.

But she said things had started going wrong when a seat on the boat broke, two days in.

"A catalogue of things went wrong - the auto helm also stopped working," said Ms Anstey.

"It meant we were literally going round in circles."

The team started to turn back when the power went and they had to call the US Coastguard, 100 miles from their start point in Boston.

The rescue took 40 minutes in total, with a helicopter lowering a cage to carry each crew member to safety with the assistance of a frogman, also known as a combat diver, named Darrell.

She said: "Darrell just appeared next to the boat with these big goggles and a smile on his face and said 'What are you guys doing here then?'"

Ms Anstey (second from right) said the rescue was "amazing"

The rower said she was now thinking of doing a solo row around the UK, adding she would make sure all equipment was "thoroughly tested".

"I've seen everything that could go possibly wrong," she said.

"My nickname out there was 'sea dragon' - I can cope with the stress of the sea."

Ms Anstey said although they had been unable to complete the Boston to London voyage, she hoped people could see the "positives that can come from a situation such as this".

Through the London's calling challenge attempt, Ms Anstey, who funded the trip herself, raised £2,860 for the charity London Youth Rowing (LYR).