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Scots rower devastated after rescue from 'world's toughest' challenge

Chris MacLennan,BBC Scotlandand
Steven McKenzie,Highlands and Islands reporter
News imageScotland the Wave Andrena McShane-Kerr is wearing sunglasses and smiling as she encourages her fellow team members as they row their small Scotland the Wave
Andrena McShane-Kerr pictured standing at the stern of the boat with her fellow team members at the start of the race

A member of an all-women team of rowers from Scotland has been rescued while taking part in a race across the Atlantic dubbed the World's Toughest Row.

Severe seasickness left Andrena McShane-Kerr, 42, so weak she could not lift her head and she was unable to eat or drink.

The race's safety team told her fellow rowers - Nicky Matthews, Fiona Deakin and Heather McCallum - to activate an emergency beacon on Wednesday night and she was flown by helicopter back to land.

The chartered accountant from Glasgow told BBC Scotland she was devastated to have to leave her friends to continue the challenge as a trio.

'Pretty tough'

The women, who are competing in the race as Scotland the Wave, had set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on Sunday to row 3,000 miles (4,828km) to Antigua in the Caribbean.

The team had trained for years for the challenge, including coastal rows in the Highlands.

Ms McShane-Kerr said weather conditions were "pretty tough" and her seasickness got "worse and worse".

"It got to the point where I was so weak I couldn't lift my head, I was unable to keep anything down," she said.

Ms McShane-Kerr said she was "devastated" to be told she was being rescued.

"It took a couple hours for the helicopter to get out, which was to be honest, another really scary kind of thing," she said.

"To have a sea rescue in pitch black with a helicopter come down and as he (the helicopter winchman) was pulling me up I was just so weak I couldn't even hold onto him."

The women trained in the Highlands before heading for the Canaries

Ms McShane-Kerr said she had received huge support from her family and fellow rowers, and was looking forward to being reunited with the rest of her crew at the end of their journey.

"Three of the most amazing, strongest women that I've ever met in my life," she said.

"I'm so proud to call them my friends and I look at them as family, and I just can't wait to see them finish."

The women, who are from across Scotland, are competing against about 35 other teams in the race while raising money for charity.

News imageScotland the Wave The women are standing in their boat and striking a pose by raising their arms and showing their muscles.Scotland the Wave
The team set off from La Gomera on Sunday

The Scottish team come from all walks of life.

Ms Deakin is a B&B proprietor in Cromarty in the Highlands, Ms McCallum is a police officer and Ms Matthews worked in social care at Angus Council for more than 20 years.

The World's Toughest Row Atlantic 2025 raises money for different charities.

Teams can take up 50 to 60 days to complete the journey.