Airlift drama as Shropshire record bid rowers face rough sea

The Toby Wallace Crew, made up of seven dedicated rowers including 47-year-old Steve Harpin from Shrewsbury, have had to say goodbye to one of their mates after he battled asthma problems for a few days.

The crew set off last week, racing against rival team Oystershack, to clinch the world record for rowing the 3,000-mile journey from Gran Canaria to Barbados.

But Oliver Waite, 27, from Cornwall, was airlifted off the boat over the weekend when his asthma began to cause some problems.

Race organiser Gemma Chalk, of Oceanus Rowing, said: "He was airlifted from the boat by helicopter and is being taken to the Canaries for a medical check-up before flying home to family in the UK."

She added: "At no time was there any danger and this was not an emergency situation – it was in the best interests of Oliver's welfare." Now, the Toby Wallace team will continue their journey across the Atlantic as a six-strong crew.

Mr Harpin, one of the crew mates, is using the challenge to raise money for the Bickerstaff Endoscopy Unit at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

He has already raised more than £800 for the unit, and is hoping to reach the £5,000 mark over the course of the race.

Also on board is skipper for the rowing boat, Simon Chalk, from Loggerheads near Market Drayton.

He said: "We are sorry to lose Ollie and wish him well, but now back to rowing. We are going to row our socks off to Barbados."

The team is currently in the lead to the finish line, but is still being hit by bad weather.

Rival team Oystershack have suffered with oars broken by strong gales and lost their wind generator when it blew away completely – but learning about the recent departure of Mr Waite, the team is desperate to catch up.

Ms Chalk said: "Oystershack have been driven a little bit more south than the Toby Wallace and suffered somewhat worse in the storms.

"But when the Oystershack crew learnt that the Toby Wallace were down to a crew of six now, the comment was 'Alrighty, game on'."

The teams are about 2,200 miles away from the finish line, but with weather looking a bit better this week both teams are working hard to cover as much distance as possible.

After being delayed for more than two weeks because of bad weather, the crews left Gran Canaria on November 24.

They can be tracked during their journey on organiser Oceanus Rowing's website – www.oceanusrowing.co.uk/atlantic-ocean-rowing

To donate to the Bickerstaff Endoscopy Unit at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital visit www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Harpin