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National

French adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin dies rowing solo across Atlantic Ocean

Jean-Jacques Savin's team says he loved the ocean. (Facebook: Jean-Jacques Savin)

The body of a 75-year-old Frenchman who was attempting to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean has been found at sea.

Jean-Jacques Savin was "found lifeless inside the cabin" off the coast of Azores, an archipelago belonging to Portugal, said a statement posted to Mr Savin's Facebook page by his support team.

"It is with great sadness that we have just learned of the death of our friend Jean-Jacques," it read.

Portuguese maritime authorities had earlier located his vessel and a diver found Mr Savin's body.

"Unfortunately, this time the ocean was stronger than our friend, who loved sailing and the sea so much," the statement said.

Mr Savin had embarked from Portugal's mainland on January 1 and celebrated his 75th birthday on January 14 at sea.

But his team had been unable to contact him since he sent distress signals on Thursday night and Friday local time.

The statement did not provide any further details, adding only that "our thoughts are with his daughter".

Mr Savin pulls his vessel before a voyage in 2018. (Facebook: Jean-Jacques Savin)

Mr Savin completed a trans-Atlantic journey in a barrel-shaped capsule from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in 2019.

He described that 4,500-kilometre journey, which saw him spend more than 120 days at sea, as "an exhilarating voyage, but also quite risky".

Earlier in life, Mr Savin had been a paratrooper, pilot and worked at a national park in central Africa, according to his website.

He also climbed Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the European Alps, in 2015 and was an avid triathlete.

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