A man from Surrey has accomplished an extraordinary feat by becoming the first person to complete the World's Toughest Row with a pacemaker. Elliot Awin, a 37-year-old wine importer from Dorking, embarked on a solo 3,000-mile journey from San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain, to Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua in December. His boat, aptly named Pacemaker, carried him across the challenging expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, and after 44 arduous days, Awin reached his destination on Friday.
A longtime rugby player, Awin had to give up the sport approximately nine years ago when he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, he didn't allow this setback to dampen his spirit. Instead, he turned to CrossFit and eventually discovered a passion for rowing. In 2020, Awin underwent surgery to have a pacemaker implanted. Remarkably, just four years later, he completed the World's Toughest Row, defying all odds.
