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The Norwegian kayaker (paddler) Roy Willy Johansen (37) became in the weekend found dead outside the coast of Newfoundland. Johansen had come far on the "Viking-route" from Greenland to Newfoundland in Canada, a distance on 2800 kilometres (reports TV2 and Aftenposten, see also the link below: Johansen`s own website for updated news about this tour).
This was a very risky tour in arctic unpredictable water. As mentioned in an earlier article on this website, this tour is never paddled of someone in Kayak earlier. In the summer Johansen crossed the Atlantic from Greenland. Since then he has been followed by accidents.
When he crossed the Davis Strait, he encountered big challenges from frostbites, high waves, heavy rain, ice floes, dense fog and polar bears. One night his kayak turned around, but Johansen managed to call for help through his satellite telephone.
The 29th July he got treatment in a hospital for serious frost injuries. Even though he didn't give up! For one week ago he started on the finale distance, and intended to reach Newfoundland within 9th October. In the end, he succumbed to a heart attack, and this was on the easies part of the distance.
The last report on Johansen`s website: 12.09 he leaves for Goose Bay. Because of transport problems he starts out there instead of in Nain. Goose Bay is in a fiord on the mainland. He'll have to paddle a week to get out of the fiord and then start to paddle down the coast of Labrador. The storms of autumn are soon coming on and will offer serious challenges. In spite of this Roy means to be able to get there on time 9th of October.
The Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail, Saturday, September 30, 2000 (journalist Tu Thanh Ha) also covered this incredible expedition.
Here is an extract from the big and well written article about Roy Willy Johansen:
He was a soft-spoken mountain of a man, a 6-foot-7 Norwegian kayak champion who towered over fellow athletes, someone who could paddle longer, faster and on less sleep than just about anyone. His dream was to retrace the journey, in his sea kayak, of Viking explorer Leif Eriksson, who first travelled from Greenland to Newfoundland 1,000 years ago. When it was over, the 37-year-old athlete planned to write a book and produce a documentary of his 2,800-kilometre journey.
Roy Johansen was incredible brave and took out his last efforts. He never gave up. Always with extraordinary guts!
He was really something! May you rest in piece!
Stein Morten Lund, 26 September 2000
Additional information
Johansen had his own website for updated news about this tour.
See travel reports and photos on the link below: http://www.vinland2000.com
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