75-Year-Old French Adventurer Dies Attempting Atlantic Crossing by Canoe Again

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] A French man in his 70s, who gained attention three years ago for successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a cylindrical capsule, was found dead at sea after attempting another Atlantic crossing.

According to foreign media on the 22nd (local time), the Portuguese Coast Guard confirmed on the 21st near the Azores Islands in the North Atlantic that a boat had capsized, and during the search, they found 75-year-old Jean-Jacques Savin deceased.

Savin had departed on the 1st from southern Portugal in an 8m long and 1.7m wide rowing boat, heading across the Atlantic toward the Caribbean region.

However, after sending distress signals twice on the night of the 20th, contact was lost until the following day, and he was found dead two days after losing contact, according to foreign media reports.

Before departing, Savin said, "I am going on a vacation to the open sea," adding, "I will row for 8 hours a day and close the door if the wind is too strong."

He loaded the boat with food, a speargun for catching fish, a heating device, and a seawater desalination unit for drinking water. To celebrate his birthday, he also brought a mandolin, a musical instrument, foie gras (goose liver or its dish), and champagne. He celebrated his 75th birthday on the boat on the 14th.

In late December 2018, at the age of 71, he challenged the Atlantic crossing using a large cylindrical orange capsule. After a four-month journey covering 2,930 miles (approximately 4,715 km), he arrived at the French Caribbean island of Martinique in May 2019, astonishing the world.