Attempted Bubble Traveler Arrested In U.S.
Reza Baluchi – the man who has repeatedly attempted to travel from Florida to Bermuda in a bubble – was arrested after another failed effort to cross the Atlantic Ocean in his homemade vessel, with the would-be bubble traveler attempting to get to London in his latest attempt.
Mr. Baluchi made his first attempt in 2014, resulting in him being rescued by the Coast Guard after being found disoriented and asking for directions to Bermuda.
He made his second attempt in April 2016, and was stopped by the Coast Guard, who said it was an “inherently unsafe voyage attempt.”
A third attempt saw Mr. Baluchi detained by the Coast Guard and placed in a psychiatric hospital under the Florida Mental Health Act.
A fourth attempt ended with his bubble washing up on a Florida beach.
Coverage of Mr. Baluchi’s 2016 attempt:
A New York Times story said, “As Hurricane Franklin was barreling toward the Eastern United States last month, the United States Coast Guard, preparing off the coast of Georgia, encountered another unexpected phenomenon.
“Alone at sea was a man in a buoyant human-size hamster wheel, who claimed he was trying to journey on the Atlantic Ocean. Again.
“The man, Reza Baluchi, 51, of Florida, told officers he had planned to travel more than 4,000 miles to London in the homemade vessel, which the Coast Guard later described as unsafe, given that it was built with buoys. Mr. Baluchi, who has been attempting similar voyages since 2014, threatened to kill himself should officers interrupt his mission, the Coast Guard said.
“He was eventually persuaded to leave his vessel on Aug. 29 and was charged in federal court in Miami on Tuesday with obstruction of boarding and violation of the Captain of the Port Order.
“Mr. Baluchi was released on Tuesday on $250,000 bond, according to court documents, which note that he “may not go to the ocean or board a vessel on to the ocean.”
A BBC story said, “A Florida man was arrested after trying to “run to London” across the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade vessel resembling a hamster wheel.
“The US Coast Guard intercepted Reza Baluchi about 70 miles [110km] off Tybee Island, Georgia on 26 August. Officials said the marathon runner refused to leave the vessel for three days. Mr Baluchi has tried three similar voyages before, all of which ended in Coast Guard intervention.
“Mr Baluchi’s voyage began as officials were preparing for the arrival of a major hurricane.
“Officials said he refused to step off the vessel and threatened to kill himself. He also claimed that he had a bomb on board, according to court papers.
“On 1 September, he eventually surrendered and abandoned his vessel after being brought to a Coast Guard base in Miami. Officials later determined that the “bomb” had been fake.
“He is now facing federal charges of obstruction of a boarding, and violation of a Captain of the Port order.”
Can someone please buy this guy a plane ticket or share their miles?
with all the lawless crap going on over there they some how still have the time to hamper this warrior’s dream. i know it is because when people no longer fear moving on the around the globe it will be hard to control and keep people contained in one location in their system