• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Man arrested following three-day standoff as he tried crossing Atlantic in human-powered hamster wheel

Home> News> US News

Updated 09:31 6 Sep 2023 GMT+1Published 09:08 6 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Man arrested following three-day standoff as he tried crossing Atlantic in human-powered hamster wheel

It's not the first time he's done something similar

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

A man was arrested after trying to cross the Atlantic in a human-sized hamster wheel.

Reza Baluchi, who is no stranger to stunts like this, was found around 70 nautical miles off Tybee Island, Georgia, on 26 August.

It turns out that he was trying to get all the way to the UK, some 4,000 miles away. Which is ambitious, to say the least.

Advert

According to the affidavit of Baluchi's arrest, the US Coast Guard picked him up while out preparing for Hurricane Franklin, which swept through the region last month.

Understandably concerned for his safety, the Coast Guard attempted to pull him back in to shore and cut his crazy stunt very short.

"The Vessel was occupied with one male passenger, later identified as Baluchi," it reads.

"Upon arriving at the Vessel, USCG officers asked standard boarding questions, to include requesting the registration of the Vessel.

Advert

Baluchi was stopped while trying to cross the Atlantic in this.
Twitter/@FlaglerSheriff

"Baluchi informed the USCG officers that he had a Florida registration on board his Vessel, but he was unable to locate it.

"He also advised USCG officers his intended destination was London, England.

"Based on the condition of the Vessel which was afloat as a result of wiring and buoys USCG officers determined Baluchi was conducting a manifestly unsafe voyage."

Advert

However, despite the Coast Guard's efforts to get Baluchi back to land, he is said to have become aggressive, and even threatened to harm himself with a large knife.

He then threatened to set off a bomb if anyone came near him, leading to a three-day stand-off, with food and other supplies being brought out to him.

It later turned out that the bomb wasn't real and he was eventually taken back to shore by the Coast Guard.

Advert

Baluchi now faces charges of obstruction of a boarding, and violation of a Captain of the Port order for this latest attempt.

This isn't he first time he's tried a similar bizarre stunt, though.

Back in 2014, after two years of training, he tried to make his way from Pompano Beach, Florida, and trace the Bermuda Triangle.

In total, the journey would have seen him travel around 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to Bermuda, to Puerto Rico, and back to Miami.

Advert

However, as with his latest attempted, the Coast Guard, who had warned him that the expedition was too dangerous, eventually picked him up approximately 185 miles (298 km) north of where he started.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@FlaglerSheriff

Topics: US News, Police, Crime

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is the News/Agenda Desk Lead, covering the latest trends and breaking stories. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

14 hours ago
  • 14 hours ago

    Everyone is pointing out the same thing as three US stealth bombers take off from military base amid Israel-Iran conflict

    Everyone is saying the same thing after President Donald Trump deployed bombers to a military base near Iran

    News
  • 14 hours ago

    Horrifying footage shows what happens when customer eats 'hottest curry' that waiter has to wear gas mask to serve

    Bengal Village in East London put the diner through his paces with the curry, which left him on the floor outside

    News
  • 14 hours ago

    Japan discovers metal that could drastically change the world after investing $107,000,000,000 into revolution

    The discovery will help fund Japan's bid to become a net-zero country by 2050

    Technology
  • 14 hours ago

    Lizzo discusses use of Ozempic as she reveals 'controversial' truth behind weight-loss

    The star has opened up about using it

    Celebrity
  • Mom arrested 37 years after heinous act following incredible DNA breakthrough
  • Bride jailed for 11 years after being arrested on her wedding day
  • Police officers arrested after ‘pulling over women and searching phones to find nude photos’
  • Billions actor arrested and charged with murder following shooting that kills man