'It sounded like a train' - Wiltshire man recalls moment wave hit during Atlantic challenge
A Wiltshire man has described "the brutal, brutal environment" he's dealing with during an Atlantic rowing challenge.
John Watling, from Lacock, is part of a team attempting what's been dubbed ‘the world's toughest row’ - from the Canaries to Antigua.
John spoke to ITV News West Country over satellite phone on Thursday 3 January, just days after they capsized during bad weather.
After three weeks at sea, they’re currently around 1,000 miles off the west coast of Africa, with 1,700 nautical miles to go.
He said: "It was pretty tough. We got pushed into some bad weather. The boat got completely swamped with the water and pushed sideways.
"We broke two oars. This was at night. It was pretty scary. We were in the bad weather for about 10 days.
"The waves were standing up vertically as they came at you. On the ninth night, I think it was 4am, once again we got pinned and then we heard the wave coming and it sounded like a train coming into a train station.
"I could sense what was gonna happen and it capsized us, came right over. I felt the 'bubble, bubble, bubble' in my ears as we went upside down. We came back up straight away.
"Two of the lads on deck - Sam and Jason - both had fallen over the side, but of course, they clipped on.
"The deck of the boat was completely strewn. It was swamped with water."
John revealed water flooded the rear cabin, playing havoc with the electrics.
He said: “It's been an absolute battle. It's a brutal, brutal environment to be in but we're in good spirits and we're forging on."
Despite the turbulent journey, John said they’re not giving up.
They’re on a routine of rowing for two hours and resting for two hours. This is for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for six weeks.
The team has thanked friends and family at home.
John said: "It's just the support from back home and knowing everybody there is supporting us.
"Spirits are pretty high, but when the weather's died right down. The wind's fairly low at the moment, and we're waiting for the final corridor of wind weather to push us on to Antigua.
"I just think all the boys - Sam, Noel, Jason, and myself - would just like to thank our loved ones."
The team is raising money for Lyme Disease UK. John’s 25-year-old daughter Yasmin now has to spend hours on a drip every day after being bitten by a tick at the age of 19.
Yasmin did not see the tick, but discovered an enormous red bullseye rash on her leg and realised she may have been infected with Lyme Disease.
In the years since, Lyme disease has had an enormous and negative impact on her life - leaving her with extreme fatigue, brain fog, memory loss and neck pain among other symptoms.
John said: "It's our honour and privilege to be representing the community of people that have chronic or long-term Lyme disease.
"Their hardship is every day and goes on for years.
"We love you all and we're here to support you and we are thinking of you and doing what we can for you and your futures."