Surrey man with pacemaker takes on World's Toughest Row

The first person to take on the World's Toughest Row with a pacemaker has said he hopes to show people heart health issues are "not the end of the world".

Elliot Awin, 36, from Dorking, Surrey, began the race across the Atlantic last month and has already raised more than £140,000 for charity.

He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation about nine years ago.

Mr Awin had the device fitted in February 2020.

In his boat, named Pacemaker, Mr Awin is currently on the 3,000-mile row from San Sebastian de La Gomera, Spain, to Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua.

"You can still do stuff... you can still row an ocean with a pacemaker," he said.

"The pacemaker for me was a bit of closure rather than more trepidation. For me, I was hoping it would solve all my problems, and be a silver bullet, and at the moment - touch wood - it has been something that has prevented any further issues, which is fantastic."

The former rugby player was forced to quit the sport after his diagnosis. Despite years in and out of hospital, he later took up CrossFit and rowing.

Following his own health issues, Mr Awin set up a charity called Wave Wrangler to support those living with an arrhythmia.

It also hopes to provide defibrillators to underfunded sports centres and communities, while some of the money raised during Mr Awin's Atlantic challenge will go to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Following a quick start, thanks to the weather helping Mr Awin travel 85 nautical miles a day, he believed he may finish the challenge by the end of January.

Samantha Wilkins, a BHF fundraising manager, said: "Elliot is taking on an incredible challenge, and we have nothing but admiration for the extraordinary effort he's putting in to raise money on our behalf."

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].