A Kent man has spoken about having run-ins with a shark and a freighter ship during a 51-day rowing challenge across the Atlantic Ocean.
Chris Andrews, from Tunbridge Wells, and his rowing partner Clint Evans, from East Molesey in Surrey, ended the Woodvale race in fourth place overall.
They started off from the Canary Islands on 30 November and rowed 2,935 miles to Antigua.
Mr Andrews said he had lost just under two stone in weight by the end.
The shark was "close enough for us to pay attention to where it was going", Mr Andrews said, but nearly being hit by a freighter in the middle of the night was more frightening.
He and Mr Evans finished second in the doubles competition, behind Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell and TV presenter Ben Fogle.
They finished the race on 20 January and speaking on Friday after his return to the UK, Mr Andrews said: "I'm feeling alright, slowly getting used to walking in a straight line on something that isn't moving all the time."
The rowers spent more than a year in training.
"We prepared ourselves physically, but the mental side, I don't think we could have prepared ourselves for the isolation and the impact of being out there for so long," said Mr Andrews.
They rowed non-stop all day and all night in two-hour shifts, leading to "extreme sleep deprivation".
Mr Andrews said he would "absolutely not" compete in the race again.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©