Triple amputee begins solo sail across Pacific

A veteran who lost both his legs and his left arm while serving in Afghanistan has begun a challenge to become the first triple amputee to sail solo across the Pacific.

Craig Wood, from Doncaster, was 18 and only three months into his first tour when he suffered life-changing injuries from a roadside bomb in Sangin, southern Afghanistan, in 2009.

Mr Wood, now 33, hopes to sail 6,000 nautical miles (11,112km) solo and unsupported in 80 days, and is expected to finish in Osaka, Japan, in early May.

In a video taken on his custom-built 40ft (12m) aluminium catamaran, he asked people to "wish me luck, wish me fair winds" as he set sail from Puerto Vallarta in Mexico on Tuesday.

Mr Wood said he had worked on preparations for his Pacific Ocean voyage "until the last minute" and felt confident he was well prepared.

His boat had been specially adapted to ensure he could continue using it, should anything happen with his prosthetic limbs.

"We have fully adapted my catamaran for the voyage so that even if I have an issue with my prosthetic arm, I can still sail one-handed," he said.

"That's not just adding in rails and electric winches, but also reconfiguring the galley to make sure everything is at an accessible height."

Following the explosion in Afghanistan in 2009, Mr Wood lost 27 pints of blood and both his lungs collapsed.

He was later taken to the Headley Court facility in Surrey for rehabilitation, spending eight months learning to walk again and undergoing more than 20 operations over four years.

"At points it almost got the best of me, but my family were amazing, and I couldn't change my situation - so I came to terms with it and decided to be the best triple amputee I could be," he said.

Mr Wood said his voyage across the Pacific would be a chance to raise awareness and money for "the two amazing charities that were there for me during my rehabilitation and recovery".

He said he aimed to raise £50,000 for the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association and Turn to Starboard, a charity using sailing courses to support current and retired armed forces personnel.

In his video message, Mr Wood said that during his voyage across the Pacific, he was likely to face waves as tall as two double decker buses.

There was also the risk of hidden coral reefs puncturing the boat's hull, he explained.

But he added: "Despite all of the challenges I'm going to face, being away from my wife and children is still going to be the hardest one of all."

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