Florida man banned from the ocean after making an attempt to sail home made hamster wheel – WSB-TV Channel 2

ATLANTA — A person who stated he was making an attempt to cross the Atlantic in a home made hamster wheel has been arrested off the coast of Tybee Island.

Reza Baluchi, 51, of Florida, was captured about 70 miles off the Tybee coast in his vessel that seemed like an enormous hamster wheel.

The Coast Guard got here in touch with Baluchi on Aug. 26 as he was making an attempt to make the 5,000-mile trek from Florida to London, England.

That’s when the guard stated Baluchi threatened to kill himself with a 12-inch knife and claimed he had a bomb on board.

“USCG officers believed this to be a sound menace, as they noticed Baluchi holding wires in his hand,” court docket paperwork confirmed.

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After two days, Baluchi admitted there was no bomb on board.

“The USCG Cutter Campbell launched a small boat to aim to ship meals, water, and predictions of the incoming hurricane to Baluchi. USCG officers once more ordered Baluchi off the Vessel, however he once more refused. It was then that Baluchi knowledgeable the USCG officers that the bomb was not actual,” court docket paperwork stated.

A day later he lastly bought off his hamster wheel and was taken into custody.

In keeping with court docket paperwork, this was not Baluchi’s first voyage within the vessel.

“Previous to this incident, Baluchi has tried voyages in an identical home made vessel in 2014, 2016, and 2021, all of which resulted in USCG intervention,” court docket paperwork stated.

Baluchi now faces federal expenses, together with obstruction of a boarding and violation of a Captain of the Port order.

Baluchi’s bond was set at $250,000. A part of his bond circumstances embody not going to the ocean or boarding a vessel on the ocean.

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