A Florida man's dream to walk on water to New York using a floating barrel has come to an end with him washing ashore and being found by coast guards.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reported Reza Baluchi left St Augustine, Florida, with the goal of reaching New York to raise money for charity.
“My goal is to not only raise money for homeless people [but to] raise money for the coast guard, raise money for the police department, raise money for the fire department," Mr Baluchi told WOFL-TV.
"They are in public service, they do it for safety and they help other people."
But the sheriff's office said Mr Baluchi, who was also a marathon runner, faced complications that brought him back to shore on Saturday.
Witnesses notified the US Coast Guard that a vessel had washed ashore and authorities arrived on the scene to ensure the vessel and occupant were safe and complying with regulations.
This was not Mr Baluchi's first time trying to cross Atlantic waters in a flotation device.
In 2014, the US Coast Guard rescued him while he tried to reach Bermuda from Florida in a homemade "hydro pod".
The pod was struck by a passing boat and Mr Baluchi had to be airlifted to hospital.
In 2016 he attempted the journey again and faced a penalty for going ahead against the approval of coast guards who said water conditions and his vessel were not safe.
Mr Baluchi told Fox 35 he would not give up trying to accomplish his goals.
"I'll never give up my dream," he said.
"They stop me four or five times, but I never give up."
AP/ABC
