Naked adventurer rescued at sea

An Irishman who had hoped to set a record for being the youngest person to row across the Indian Ocean alone — not to mention completely naked — had to be rescued after a head injury put an end to his recent attempt.

Keith Whelan, age 29, had barely begun what was expected to be a 14-week journey when a large wave struck his craft, throwing him across the boat's cabin and slamming his head into a bolt that left a gash on his head. Whelan stopped the bleeding on his own but decided to contact a friend via satellite phone. Australian authorities diverted a nearby Japanese commercial cargo ship to rescue him, where medics treated his injury.

The cargo ship hoisted the young adventurer's boat onboard, but choppy seas at the time resulted in some damage to the vessel, forcing him to abandon the rest of the trip for now.

Despite
harsh conditions,
the young man pledged
to make the entire ocean
trek completely
naked.

A native of Athy in Ireland's Kildare County, Whelan sails nude to avoid wardrobe-damaging encrustations of ocean salt. Consequently, he has embraced the title of "the Naked Adventurer," the name of his blog and Facebook page, which he planned to keep updating on the journey with the help of onboard solar panels. Despite harsh sun and unpredictable storms, the young man had vowed to make the entire trek from Australia to Mauritius stark naked.

The adventure was intended to publicize Whelan's fundraising for the charity Keep a Child Alive, which provides treatment and support to children and families affected by HIV in Africa and India.

Whelan's quest is not without precedent. In 2008, 24-year old Wiltshire student Sam Williams (shown below) rowed solo — and naked — across the Atlantic to raise money for African farmers.