Updated: Daniel Abela completes Sicily-Malta rowing challenge

38-year-old marketing consultant, Daniel Abela, has just completed his charity row from Sicily, arriving at Valletta Waterfront after a single-handed crossing which he started on Thursday.

Looked exhausted, Mr Abela said this had been a mental and physical challenge for him. The toughest part of the crossing was yesterday, when a strong headwind meant that he could not rest for a stretch of five hours.

Mr Abela performed the feat in aid of the Puttinu Children’s Cancer Support Group and Beyond the Moon programme. Their aim is to raise funds so that terminally ill children can enjoy a dream holiday with their parents.

He said on arriving that he was overwhelmed by the welcome, and he hoped he had provided a ray of hope for the terminally ill children.

The crossing was made in a heavy ocean-going rowing boat, the Carpe Diem – seize the day – which has been rowed twice across the Atlantic, though not by a single rower.