A Florida man has been arrested after attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a homemade “human hamster” wheel.
The man—identified as 44-year-old Reza Baluchi—is now facing federal charges.
Coast Guard officials on the USS Coast Guard cutter Valiant, which was in the area, rescued Mr. Baluchi on Aug. 26 after intercepting him in his contraption roughly 70 miles off Tybee Island on Georgia’s coast, a criminal complaint filed in US District Court in Florida states.
Mr. Baluchi was allegedly attempting to reach London via the vessel powered by running on his hamster wheel
According to the complaint, he embarked on a “manifestly unsafe” voyage, as his vessel was only kept afloat by wiring and buoys on each side, resembling a large metal drum. Its paddles were operated by the “marathon runner” inside.
“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,” the complaint stated.
The complaint said Mr. Baluchi could not provide officials with adequate registration documentation.
Suicide Threat
Upon being told he could not proceed with his journey, Mr. Baluchi threatened suicide with a 12-inch knife should anyone approach him while also claiming to have a bomb aboard the vessel, which later turned out to be false.
After several days of negotiation, Mr. Baluchi finally conceded, and Coast Guard officers managed to get him off his vessel at the USCG Base in Miami Beach, Florida, on Sept. 1.
He now faces federal charges, including obstruction of a boarding and violation of a Captain of the Port order, Fox News reported.
However, it was not Mr. Baluchi’s first attempt at a ‘sea voyage’ on a hamster wheel.
Court documents show previous attempts in 2014, 2016, and 2021 —all of which were apprehended.
In his 2021 attempt, Mr. Baluchi attempted to cross from Florida to New York but washed ashore after 25 miles in the Hammock area of Flagler County, where he was taken into custody by police.
Mr. Baluchi said his efforts served to raise money for charity.
“My goal is to not only raise money for homeless people, raise money for the Coast Guard, raise money for the police department, raise money for the fire department,” he told Fox 35 after his 2021 attempt.
“They are in public service, they do it for safety, and they help other people,” he said, adding that he wasn’t planning on giving up.
“I’ll never give up my dream. They stop me four or five times, but I never give up,” Mr. Baluchi said.
