Son rowing Atlantic told to throw father overboard if he dies

London: A 79-year-old who intends to row the Atlantic, despite having never before taken up oars, has given his son permission to throw his body overboard if he dies along the way.

Dr John Eustace has written his son, Robert, a disclaimer giving him authority to dispose of his body and keep rowing if he dies during their 4828km joint voyage. The retired GP said he wanted “no messing about” if the worst should happen and his son should take the opportunity to “lighten the load” and continue. “At my age I’ve got nothing to lose. I am giving my son the letter before we leave giving him permission to tip me over the side if I have a heart attack for instance,” he said. “It’s a good way to go and I can think of worse places to end up!” He added: “I’m not planning on that though. I hope it doesn’t come to that, because I’ve got some nice Burgundy to drink when we get home!”

Dr Eustace said the idea for the epic voyage formed “over a long family Sunday lunch” last autumn. The prospect of more than two gruelling months at sea does not seem to worry Dr Eustace as much as the fear that he will annoy his son. The father of four, from Windsor in Berkshire, said: “I’m concerned I might annoy my son but he is quite insistent I won’t and says he is looking forward to a bit of quality time. “It is quite an undertaking, but my son has rowed the Atlantic and also some of the Pacific so he’s an experienced ocean sailor.

— The Daily Telegraph