Amputee marine Lee Spencer smashes solo Atlantic rowing record by 36 days

A former Royal Marine, who lost his leg in an accident, has completed the fastest unsupported solo row across the Atlantic.

Lee Spencer, known as "The Rowing Marine", smashed the solo Atlantic rowing record from mainland Europe to South America, by a whopping 36 days.

The 49-year-old, from Horrabridge in Devon, spent 60 days crossing 3,800 nautical miles, becoming the first person with a disability to make the solo crossing.

He arrived in Cayenne, French Guiana, on Monday - having faced 40ft waves and a bout of gastroenteritis during the journey - while sleeping for just two hours at a time.

Mr Spencer had gathered famous supporters along the way including Prince Harry, Gareth Southgate and Joanna Lumley.

The veteran has also broken the able-bodied record set by Stein Hoff in 2002, who made the trip in 96 days, 12 hours and 45 minutes.

Mr Spencer served in the Royal Marines for 24 years and survived three tours in Afghanistan without injury.

But he had his right leg amputated below the knee following an incident in January 2014, when he stopped to help a stranded motorist and was hit by flying debris from a car accident, on the M3 motorway in Surrey.

Mr Spencer set out to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity and the Endeavour Fund, which supports the recovery of injured British service personnel.