Atlantic rower Graham Walters breaks three world records

Graham Walters set out across the Atlantic on 25 January

A 72-year-old man has broken three world records in his bid to become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic.

Graham Walters, from Leicestershire, set out from Gran Canaria in January and landed in Antigua on Wednesday.

Not only is he the oldest person to row across the Atlantic, he is the oldest person to row across any ocean and to cross the same ocean multiple times.

Doubt had been raised on the record as Mr Walters had to be towed into port.

With just miles to go, strong winds started to push him away from his destination and he had to be towed ashore.

But the Guinness World Records and the Ocean Rowing Society confirmed he had broken three records after the challenge.

Mr Walters enjoyed a restorative burger and chips upon landfall

Mr Walters had been at sea for 13 weeks, rowing the 3,000 miles to the Caribbean.

Speaking about being towed into port, he said: "The problem was with the wind. It was taking me past Antigua.

"As I was rowing, I knew that I wouldn't have made the island so it was necessary to get a little bit of help."

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After months at sea, Mr Walters said he had "come back to a different world" in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I had never heard of coronavirus before I left," he said.

"But I spoke to my wife every week, and slowly and slowly it got more and more serious.

"People are more at risk [at] my age, and I've got asbestos on my lungs, so when I was rowing I thought to myself, 'this is the safest place to be, on the Atlantic'."

Mr Walters hand-built his boat in his garden 22 years ago

Mr Walters' journey involved traversing rough seas, repairing broken equipment and avoiding the attention of hammerhead sharks.

He said he might have to wait at least a fortnight to fly back to the UK.

Mr Walters, whose daily routine started with a breakfast of sausages, beans and porridge, said: "Dark rowing is fantastic because you are looking at where the sunrise comes up. You have all these colours and contours."

He has also been praised for his fundraising work for Help for Heroes.

David Martin, head of supporter fundraising for the charity, said: "Few of us would attempt such a challenge in the first flush of youth - let alone in our seventies.

"Graham is clearly a remarkable and determined man."