Man crossing ocean in inflatable hamster wheel rescued, yet again
Who knew that traveling the open sea in a giant inflatable bubble could cause so much trouble?
Pretty much everyone, apparently, but that didn't stop Reza Baluchi from trying it anyway. On Sunday, U.S. Coast Guard officials were forced to rescue Baluchi after discovering that his hamster wheel -- sorry, HydroPod as it's known -- was "manifestly unsafe."
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This isn't the first time Baluchi had to be rescued from his HydroPod. In 2014, the Coast Guard saved Baluchi after discovering him dazed near the coast of Miami, asking for directions to Bermuda.
Earlier, the Coast Guard had advised Baluchi not to go on his trip, reminding him of his previous mistakes and the dangers that lay ahead.
"Your vessels and the conditions under which you are attempting to complete your voyage to Bermuda is unsafe," the letter read.
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What are those pesky unsafe conditions, exactly? Oh, just the open sea, a giant hamster wheel, and internal temperatures approximating 120 degrees F.
Chiiiiiiiilll, Coast Guard.
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On his website, Baluchi claimed that he was running the marathon to raise "money for children in need." According to his Indiegogo page, one backer donated $37 to his endeavor. His goal was $850,000.
His 2014 rescue cost the government $144,000.
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Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.
