Gardaí and first responders ran to Furbo Beach in Galway overnight as former pro rugby player Damian Browne rowed onto dry land for the first time in 112 days, GalwayBeo reports
Browne became the first person ever to row from New York to Galway having left Manhattan way back in June and has set a world record in the process.
The former Leinster man finally set foot on solid ground early on Tuesday morning just before 1am. The weather conditions stopped the adventurer from reaching the Port of Galway, but he and his vessel Cushlamachree successfully made it to Furbo Beach.
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Once there, Damian immediately called Chris Martin, the Project Empower land support officer, who in turn contacted the relevant emergency services who rushed to the beach.
First on the scene were Garda Micheál Ó Ráinne from An Spidéil, Garda Vincent Kelly from Indreabhán and Garda Eoin O’Malley from Carna who found Cushlamachree on the rocks and helped Damian to safety.
Damian and The Project Empower team expressed their gratitude to the Gardaí and the Emergency First Responders “who looked after Damian so well”.
Damian is now reunited with his family and will celebrate this amazing achievement with the people of Galway later today.
His homecoming will take place in Galway Docks on Tuesday morning at 11am as the Project Empower team said he “is in good spirits and is very much looking forward to celebrating”.
Having left Chelsea Piers, Manhattan, on Tuesday June 14 at 03.10am (GMT + 1), Damian had spent almost 16 weeks or 112 days at sea, fighting Mother Nature every step of the way.
The journey, which has been entitled Project Empower, was part of a fundraising effort for four charitable organisations: National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Ability West, Madra and The Galway Simon Community.
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