Record rower returns home

Simon Chalk hopes to put the boat in a maritime museum

A record-breaking Devon rower has arrived back in Britain.

Simon Chalk, from Newton Abbot, became the youngest person and first Briton to cross the Indian Ocean last month.

He touched down at Heathrow Airport shortly after 0630 BST on Monday to a warm reception from friends and family.

Speaking as he headed back to Devon, Mr Chalk said his achievements during the 108-day row had not really sunk in yet.

"It is five months exactly to the day since I left the UK, but it feels like a lifetime," said the 30-year-old.

My written diary has been lost, which is disappointing, and both video cameras have been completely destroyed

Simon Chalk

"My experiences have been so high and so low that it is a strange feeling.

"I need to sit down and reflect on some of the things that have happened, because I haven't had time to put them into any order.

"But it is fantastic to be home again."

The end of Mr Chalk's epic journey was marked by drama when he was forced to cut adrift his £100,000 boat, True Spirit, during fierce storms as it was being towed into Mauritius.

He eventually recovered the boat, but not before the vessel and some of its contents were badly damaged.

"My written diary has been lost, which is disappointing, and both video cameras have been completely destroyed.

"But I still have an awful lot very clearly in my mind," said Mr Chalk.