Bubble Man Violates USCG Order, Voyage Ended
The man who planned to make the 1,000 mile journey from Florida to Bermuda in a bubble has been picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard which posted, “Adventure runner’s voyage ends after he violated a USCG order not to embark on his seagoing journey”, in a tweet this evening [April 24].
The Daily Mail reported, “Miami Coast Guard spent 12 hours trying to coax a bungling adventurer out of his homemade inflatable bubble after already warning him not to attempt his ‘life-threatening’ 3,500 mile ocean journey.
“Baluchi now faces a possible fine of up to $40,000 or jail time of up to seven years for ignoring their letter of warning.”
Reza Baluchi has already attempted to make the journey, and was rescued by the Coast Guard back in 2014, when he was reportedly found in a disoriented state and asking for directions to Bermuda.
Mr Baluchi was rescued by a Coast Guard aircrew some 70 miles off Florida in 2014, with the rescue mission costing the Coast Guard more than $140,000.
Back in 2014, the Coast Guard warned Mr Baluchi of the dangers of his voyage to Bermuda, saying they had “grave concerns regarding his safety” in his “human powered travel from Miami to Bermuda in the hydro pod.”
The Coast Guard Captain said as the “vessel” was being powered by Mr Baluchi “running and leaning from one side to the other,” he was “putting himself in grave danger on the high seas.”
The warning letter sent by the Coast Guard to Mr Baluchi is below [PDF here]:
He knew it would come to this…Now he’ll just collect the $ from the publicity. Smart dude:-)
I don’t think he. Is smart. More like. A dum a=====SSS
The coast guard. Have more important things. To do
Psychological Evaluation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What money, from whom?
He is an idiot.
This is good news. The open ocean is not the place for lunatics like this guy. I have lost count of how many sea rescues I have had to perform over the years. This guy was a disaster waiting to happen. Even professionals can run into trouble in the calmest of waters. Just the other day I had to rescue the good Doctor.
What is wrong with people!
At one time they thought the world was flat.
LMFAO
Why does this character continue to choose to come here.
Oh well, thanks for the publicity!
He heard about de open door policy.
That would be the 2008-2012 St. Kitts policy?
New campaign for Bermuda? “Some people will do anything to get to Bermuda”.
You may have a relevant point there, “Ed”
@ Ed, good one. BTA should jump on that and get royalties…….lol
Ya, and let Hanbury pay for de rescue, it’ll only be a couple months of his annual wages !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And some will do anything to stay!
Yeah, I saw where you posted that. I think that’s a great idea! The tourism people really should take advantage of this.
All the coast guard had to do was let the man sign a letter consent saying he’s on his own… I personally would have love to see the outcome of his adventure or demise. After all, some mothers do have um…
your a nice guy
I don’t think the Coast Guard would do that. They have a moral standing obligation they take very seriously, to save lives at sea. They know this guy is going to die if he gets too far from shore.
BTA aren’t that creative. They don’t come up with the ideas or do the leg work (so what else is there to do?) I was told this by a BTA employee.
He should be thrown in jail. He is wasting resources doing this foolish nonsense!
Thrown in jail so he can waste more taxpayer money? Yeah, that makes real good sense. Let him off. He’s accountable for his own person. He won’t represent a navigational hazard – and worst case, the bubble isn’t bio-degradable – it’ll just end up as flotsam. If he wants to turn himself into fish food, let him have at it.
Can someone with a boat please volunteer to escort him so he can make the trip safely?!
Still would never make it. If by some miracle he makes it into the gulf stream he will just be swept north.